Feedback device and method for providing thermal feedback using the same

ABSTRACT

A method for providing a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device. The feedback device outputs the thermal feedback, by transmitting a heat generated by a thermoelectric element, to a user via a contact surface contacting with a body part of the user. The method may include obtaining a feedback start message including a type of the thermal feedback, and when the type of the thermal feedback is a thermal grill feedback, outputting the thermal grill feedback by performing a thermal grill operation in which a heat generating operation and a heat absorbing operation is combined. The outputting of the thermal grill feedback may include applying a forward power to the thermoelectric element to perform the heat generating operation, applying a reverse power of which a current direction is opposite to the forward power to the thermoelectric element to perform the heat absorbing operation, and repeating the applying the forward power and the applying the reverse power alternatively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/415,437, filed on Oct. 21, 2016, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference in is entirety.

This application also claims foreign priority benefits of the filingdate of Korean Application Serial No. 10-2016-0157732, 10-2016-0157733,10-2016-0157734, 10-2016-0157735, 10-2016-0157736 and 10-2016-0157737,filed on Nov. 24, 2016, and which are incorporated hereby by referencein their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a feedback device and amethod for providing a thermal feedback using the feedback device. Inparticular, the present disclosure relates to a feedback device and amethod for providing a thermal grill feedback, in addition to a hotfeedback and a cold feedback, as the thermal feedback, and to a feedbackdevice and a method for preventing a thermal inversion illusion whichoccurs at the termination of the thermal feedback.

BACKGROUND

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2016, virtual reality wasintroduced as one of the most promising future technologies. Thedevelopment of technologies such as virtual reality (VR) or augmentedreality (AR) have increased the demand for devices and methods thatenhance user experience (UX). For example, there is interest in methodsthat enhance user's immersion in the contents by stimulating multiplehuman senses. VR and AR are normally confined mainly to visual andauditory senses. However, efforts are under way to include various humansenses such as olfactory and tactile sense.

Thermoelectric elements (TEs) are electrical devices that generate orabsorb heat using the Peltier effect. TEs may be used to provide athermal feedback to a user. However, the incorporation of thethermoelectric elements in VR or AR applications has been limitedbecause it is difficult to fabricate conventional thermoelectricelements using flat substrates. Thus, it is challenging to have TEs thatmake tight contact with a body part of a user.

In recent years, however, the Assignee of the present Application hassuccessfully developed flexible thermoelectric elements (FTEs), e.g., asdisclosed in Korean Application Serial No. 10-2015-0154087 filed on Nov.3, 2015. It is expected that the thermal feedback can be effectivelydelivered to users by overcoming the problems of the conventionalthermoelectric elements.

SUMMARY

The following sets forth a simplified summary of selected aspects,embodiments, and examples of the present disclosure for providing abasic understanding of the disclosure. However, the summary does notconstitute an extensive overview of all the aspects, embodiments, andexamples of the disclosure. Neither is the summary intended to identifycritical aspects or delineate the scope of the disclosure. The solepurpose of the summary is to present selected aspects, embodiments, andexamples of the disclosure in a concise form as an introduction to themore detailed description of the aspects, embodiments, and examples ofthe disclosure that follow the summary.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device. The methodmay include applying an operating power to a thermoelectric element tostart a thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback;stopping the application of the operating power to terminate thethermoelectric operation; and when the application of the operatingpower is stopped, applying a buffering power to the thermoelectricelement to reduce a temperature returning speed of a contact surface.The feedback device may include a heat outputting module which isprovided as the thermoelectric element and performs the thermoelectricoperation including at least one of a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation and the contact surface which is configured tocontact with a body of the user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback. The device may include a heatoutputting module, which includes a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation; a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement; and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user. The heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedback bytransmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controller isconfigured to: apply the operating power to the power terminal to startthe thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback; stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the thermoelectricoperation; and when the application of the operating power is stopped,apply a buffering power to the power terminal to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device. The methodincludes applying an operating power to an operating group to start athermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback, theoperating group corresponding to at least one of a plurality ofthermoelectric couple groups; stopping the application of the operatingpower for the operating group to terminate the thermoelectric operationto end the thermal feedback; and performing, prior to the stopping, abuffering operation to reduce a temperature returning speed of a contactsurface so that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented. The bufferingoperation may include stopping the application of the operating powerfor a first portion of the operating group and maintaining theapplication of the operating power for a second portion of the operatinggroup, the first portion being different from the second portion of theoperating group; and the feedback device includes: a thermoelectriccouple array that may include the plurality of thermoelectric couplegroups and performs the thermoelectric operation including at least oneof a heat generating operation and a heat absorbing operation; and thecontact surface which is configured to contact with a body of the userand transmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback. The device includes a heatoutputting module, which includes a thermoelectric element which isprovided as a thermoelectric couple array having a plurality ofthermoelectric couple groups and performing a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation; and a power terminal supplying an operating powerfor the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectric element, and acontact surface which is provided on one side of the thermoelectricelement and is configured to contact with a body part of a user. Theheat outputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, viathe contact surface, a heat generated due to the thermoelectricoperation to the user; and a feedback controller configured to: applythe operating power to an operating group corresponding to at least apart of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups to start thethermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback; stop theapplication of the operating power for all the operating group toterminate the thermoelectric operation to end the thermal feedback; andperform a buffering operation to reduce a temperature returning speed ofthe contact surface, wherein the feedback controller performs thebuffering operation, prior to stopping of the application of theoperating power for all the operating group, by stopping the applicationof the operating power for a part of the operating group and maintainingthe application of the operating power for a remainder of the operatinggroup.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a gamingcontroller including a casing having a grip portion gripped by a userand forming an exterior of the gaming controller; an input modulereceiving a user input according to a manipulation of the user; acommunication module communicating with the content reproduction device;a heat outputting module, which includes a thermoelectric elementperforming a thermoelectric operation, a power terminal applying a powerto the thermoelectric element; and a contact surface which is disposedon the grip portion and configured to contact with the user. The heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation to theuser; and a controller configured to: obtain, via the input module, theuser input; send, via the communication module, the user input to thecontent reproduction device; receive, via the communication module, afeedback information from the content reproduction device; select, froma group of predetermined voltage values, an operating voltage valuebased on an intensity of the feedback included in the feedbackinformation; generate an operating power having the operating voltagevalue; apply the operating power to the heat outputting module so thatthe heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedback; stop theapplication of the operating power so that the heat outputting modulestops outputting the thermal feedback; select, from the group ofpredetermined voltage values, a buffering voltage value, the bufferingvoltage value being lower than the operating voltage value; generate abuffering power having the buffering voltage value, and apply thebuffering power to the heat outputting module to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedback devicethat provides a thermal feedback to a user and a method of providing thethermal feedback using the feedback device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice that provides a thermal feedback including, in addition to a hotsensation and a cold sensation, a pain sensation using the hot sensationand the cold sensation, and a method of providing the thermal feedbackusing the feedback device.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice capable of outputting a multi-level thermal feedback by adjustingthe intensity of heat generating operation and a heat absorbingoperation, and a method of providing the thermal feedback using thefeedback device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for outputting a thermal grill feedback by using an operatingpower control, an operating area control, an operating time control, andthe like, and a method of providing the thermal feedback using thefeedback device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice that prevents damage on the user's skin due to a thermal feedbackand a method of providing the thermal feedback using the feedbackdevice.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice that prevents a thermal inversion illusion and a method ofproviding a thermal feedback using the same.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice that prevents a thermal inversion illusion using a properbuffering operation according to a type of a thermal feedback includinga hot feedback and a cold feedback, and a method for providing thethermal feedback using the feedback device.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method comprising: applying an operatingpower to the thermoelectric element to start the thermoelectricoperation for outputting the thermal feedback; stopping the applicationof the operating power to terminate the thermoelectric operation; andwhen the application of the operating power is stopped, applying abuffering power to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: apply the operating power to the power terminal to startthe thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the thermoelectricoperation, and when the application of the operating power is stopped,apply a buffering power to the power terminal to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation and a contact surface which isconfigured to contact with a body of a user and transmit a heatgenerated by the thermoelectric operation, the method may include:applying an operating power to an operating group corresponding to atleast a part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups tostart the thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback;stopping the application of the operating power for all the operatinggroup to terminate the thermoelectric operation so that the thermalfeedback ends; and performing, prior to the stopping, a bufferingoperation to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surfaceso that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the bufferingoperation includes stopping the application of the operating power for apart of the operating group and maintaining the application of theoperating power for a remainder of the operating group, and wherein thethermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation feltby the user as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedbackduring returning a temperature of the contact surface to an initialtemperature due to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array having a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performing a thermoelectric operation including atleast one of a heat generating operation and a heat absorbing operation,a power terminal supplying an operating power for the thermoelectricoperation to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surface which isprovided on one side of the thermoelectric element and is configured tocontact with a body part of a user, wherein the heat outputting moduleoutputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, aheat generated due to the thermoelectric operation to the user; and afeedback controller configured to: apply an operating power to anoperating group corresponding to at least a part of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to start the thermoelectric operation foroutputting the thermal feedback, stop the application of the operatingpower for all the operating group to terminate the thermoelectricoperation so that the thermal feedback ends, and perform a bufferingoperation to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surfaceso that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the feedbackcontroller performs the buffering operation, prior to stopping of theapplication of the operating power for all the operating group, bystopping the application of the operating power for a part of theoperating group and maintaining the application of the operating powerfor a remainder of the operating group, and wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a gamingcontroller, wherein the gaming controller is used as an input interface,of a content reproduction device reproducing a multimedia content,receiving a user input related to the multimedia content, and as anoutput interface, of the content reproduction device, providing athermal experience related to the multimedia content by outputting athermal feedback, the gaming controller may include: a casing having agrip portion gripped by a user and forming an exterior of the gamingcontroller; an input module receiving the user input according to amanipulation of the user; a communication module communicating with thecontent reproduction device; a heat outputting module including athermoelectric element performing a thermoelectric operation, a powerterminal applying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contactsurface which is disposed on the grip portion and configured to contactwith the user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermalfeedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated bythe thermoelectric operation to the user; and a controller configuredto: obtain, via the input module, the user input, send, via thecommunication module, the user input to the content reproduction device,receive, via the communication module, a feedback information from thecontent reproduction device, select one from predetermined voltagevalues as an operating voltage value based on an intensity of thefeedback included in the feedback information, generate an operatingpower having the operating voltage value, apply the operating power tothe heat outputting module so that the heat outputting module outputsthe thermal feedback, stop the application of the operating power sothat the heat outputting module stops outputting the thermal feedback,select one less than the operating voltage value from the predeterminedvoltage values as a buffering voltage, generate a buffering power havingthe buffering voltage value, and apply the buffering power to the heatoutputting module to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contactsurface so that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein thethermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation feltby the user as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedbackduring returning a temperature of the contact surface to an initialtemperature due to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to the thermoelectric element to startoutputting of the thermal feedback; stopping the application of theoperating power to terminate the outputting of the thermal feedback;generating a buffering power based on the type of the thermal feedback;and when the application of the operating power is stopped, applying thebuffering power to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to the thermoelectric element to startoutputting of the thermal feedback; stopping the application of theoperating power to terminate the outputting of the thermal feedback;obtaining a buffering duration which is set differently based on thetype of the thermal feedback; and when the application of the operatingpower is stopped, applying a buffering power for the buffering durationto the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperature returning speed ofthe contact surface so that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented,wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionarysensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to the outputtedthermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contact surfaceto an initial temperature due to the termination of the thermoelectricoperation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured tocontact with a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to an operating group to start outputting of thethermal feedback, the operating group including at least part of theplurality of the thermoelectric couple groups; stopping the applicationof the operating power to terminate the outputting of the thermalfeedback; determining a buffering group based on the type of thethermoelectric operation, the buffering group including at least part ofthe plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, wherein the number ofthe thermoelectric couple groups included in the buffering group issmaller than the number of the thermoelectric couple groups included inthe operating group; and when the application of the operating power isstopped, applying a buffering power to the buffering group to reduce atemperature returning speed of the contact surface so that a thermalinversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusionis defined as an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensationopposite to the outputted thermal feedback during returning atemperature of the contact surface to an initial temperature due to thetermination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured tocontact with a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to an operating group to start outputting of thethermal feedback, the operating group including at least part of theplurality of the thermoelectric couple groups; stopping the applicationof the operating power to terminate the outputting of the thermalfeedback; and performing a buffering operation to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface upon the stopping of theapplication of the operating power so that a thermal inversion illusionis prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as anillusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to theoutputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contactsurface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation, and wherein the buffering operation isperformed, before the application of the operating power related to allof the operating group is stopped, by maintaining the application of theoperating power to a part of the operating group and stopping theapplication of the operating power to the rest of the operating group.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting of the thermal feedback, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the outputting of thethermal feedback, generate a buffering power based on the type of thethermal feedback, and when the application of the operating power isstopped, apply the buffering power to the thermoelectric element toreduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surface so that athermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversionillusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by the user as asensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback during returning atemperature of the contact surface to an initial temperature due to thetermination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting of the thermal feedback, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the outputting of thethermal feedback, obtain a buffering duration which is set differentlybased on the type of the thermal feedback, and when the application ofthe operating power is stopped, apply a buffering power for thebuffering duration to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a feedbackdevice for providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups and performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to an operating group tostart outputting of the thermal feedback, the operating group includingat least part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the outputting ofthe thermal feedback, determine a buffering group based on the type ofthe thermoelectric operation, the buffering group including at leastpart of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, wherein thenumber of the thermoelectric couple groups included in the bufferinggroup is smaller than the number of the thermoelectric couple groupsincluded in the operating group, and when the application of theoperating power is stopped, apply a buffering power to the bufferinggroup to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surface sothat a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups and performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to an operating group tostart outputting of the thermal feedback, the operating group includingat least part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the outputting ofthe thermal feedback; and perform a buffering operation to reduce atemperature returning speed of the contact surface upon the stopping ofthe application of the operating power so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation, and wherein the buffering operation isperformed, before the application of the operating power related to allof the operating group is stopped, by maintaining the application of theoperating power to a part of the operating group and stopping theapplication of the operating power to the rest of the operating group.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback including a hot feedback, a cold feedbackand a thermal grill feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation, a heatabsorbing operation and a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined and acontact surface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation, the methodmay include: applying a forward power to a first group of the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second group of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat absorbing operation sothat the thermoelectric couple array performs the thermal grilloperation and starts outputting of the thermal grill feedback; andstopping the application of the forward power and the application of thereverse power, wherein the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power are stopped at different time points.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup performing a heat generating operation and a second thermoelectriccouple group performing a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback by transmitting,via the contact surface, a hot heat according to the heat generatingoperation and a cold heat according to the heat absorbing operation tothe user; and a feedback controller configured to: apply a forward powerto a first thermoelectric couple group and a reverse power to a secondthermoelectric couple group so that the thermoelectric element performsthe thermal grill operation and starts outputting of the thermal grillfeedback, and stop the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power, wherein the application of the forwardpower and the application of the reverse power are stopped at differenttime points.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback including a hot feedback, a cold feedbackand a thermal grill feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation, a heatabsorbing operation and a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined and acontact surface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation, the methodmay include: applying a forward power to a first group of the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second group of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat absorbing operation sothat the thermoelectric couple array performs the thermal grilloperation and starts outputting of the thermal grill feedback; stoppingthe application of the forward power and the application of the reversepower in order to terminate outputting of the thermal grill feedback;and applying a compensation power to at least one of the first group andthe second group so that the contact surface returns to an initialtemperature.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup performing a heat generating operation and a second thermoelectriccouple group performing a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback by transmitting,via the contact surface, a hot heat according to the heat generatingoperation and a cold heat according to the heat absorbing operation tothe user; and a feedback controller configured to: apply a forward powerto the first thermoelectric couple group to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second thermoelectric couple group toperform the heat absorbing operation so that the thermoelectric couplearray performs the thermal grill operation and starts outputting of thethermal grill feedback, stop the application of the forward power andthe reverse power in order to terminate outputting of the thermal grillfeedback, and apply a compensation power to at least one of the firstthermoelectric couple group and the second thermoelectric couple groupso that the contact surface returns to an initial temperature.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method comprising: obtaining a startmessage requesting outputting the thermal feedback; applying, upon theobtaining the start message, an operating power to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting the thermal feedback which corresponds tothe start message; stopping the application of the operating power toterminate the thermoelectric operation; when the application of theoperating power is stopped, performing a buffering operation reducing atemperature returning speed of the contact surface for preventing athermal inversion illusion due to the termination of the thermoelectricoperation, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as anillusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to theoutputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contactsurface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation; and when a new start message is obtainedduring performing the buffering operation, stopping the bufferingoperation and applying the operating power to the thermoelectric elementto start outputting the thermal feedback which corresponds to the newstart message.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with a content reproduction deviceexecuting a multimedia content including a game and an experienceapplication; a heat outputting module including a thermoelectric elementperforming a thermoelectric operation including at least one of a heatgenerating operation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated due to the thermoelectric operation tothe user so that a thermal experience related to the multimedia isprovided to the user; and a feedback controller configured to: receive,via the communication module, a start message requesting outputting thethermal feedback, apply, upon the receipt of the start message, anoperating power to the thermoelectric element to start outputting thethermal feedback which corresponds to the start message, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the thermoelectricoperation, when the application of the operating power is stopped,perform a buffering operation reducing a temperature returning speed ofthe contact surface for preventing a thermal inversion illusion due tothe termination of the thermoelectric operation, wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation, and when a newstart message is received during performing the buffering operation,stop the buffering operation and apply the operating power to thethermoelectric element to start outputting the thermal feedback whichcorresponds to the new start message.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting a heatgenerated by a thermoelectric element, to a user via a contact surfacecontacting with a body part of the user, the method may include:obtaining a feedback start message including a type of the thermalfeedback; and when the type of the thermal feedback is a thermal grillfeedback, outputting the thermal grill feedback by performing a thermalgrill operation in which a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation is combined, wherein the outputting includesapplying a forward power to the thermoelectric element to perform theheat generating operation, applying a reverse power of which a currentdirection is opposite to the forward power to the thermoelectric elementto perform the heat absorbing operation, and the application of theforward power and the application of the reverse power is repeatedalternatively.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing a heatgenerating operation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated due to the heat generating operationor the heat absorbing operation; and a feedback controller configuredto: receive, via the communication module, a feedback start messageincluding a type of the thermal feedback, when the type of the thermalfeedback is a thermal grill feedback, and output the thermal grillfeedback by performing a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined,wherein the feedback controller applies a forward power to thethermoelectric element to perform the heat generating operation and areverse power of which a current direction is opposite to the forwardpower to the thermoelectric element to perform the heat absorbingoperation and repeats the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power alternatively so that the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array including a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performs a thermoelectric operation, and a contactsurface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric couple array, the methodmay include: applying a forward power for a heat generating operationand a reverse power for a heat absorbing operation, alternatively to afirst group of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups;applying the forward power and the reverse power alternatively to asecond group of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups,wherein the application of the forward power to the second group isperformed when the application of the reverse power to the first groupis performed and the application of the reverse power to the secondgroup is performed when the application of the forward power to thefirst group is performed; and outputting a thermal grill feedback by thethermoelectric couple array performing the heat generating operation andthe heat absorbing operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup and a second thermoelectric couple group, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated from the thermoelectric element to theuser; and a feedback controller configured to: receive, via thecommunication module, a start message requesting outputting the thermalfeedback, apply a forward power for a heat generating operation and areverse power for a heat absorbing operation, alternatively to the firstthermoelectric group, apply the forward power and the reverse poweralternatively to the second thermoelectric group, and control thethermoelectric couple array to output a thermal grill feedback byapplying the forward power to the first thermoelectric couple group andthe reverse power to the second thermoelectric couple groupsimultaneously and applying the reverse power to the firstthermoelectric couple group and the forward power to the secondthermoelectric couple group simultaneously.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device includes a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array including a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performs a thermoelectric operation, and a contactsurface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric couple array, the methodmay include: applying a forward power for a heat generating operation toa first portion of the thermoelectric couple groups; applying a reversepower for a heat absorbing operation to a second portion of thethermoelectric couple groups when the forward power is applied to thefirst portion of the thermoelectric couple groups; and outputting athermal grill feedback by the thermoelectric couple array performing theheat generating operation and the heat absorbing operationsimultaneously, wherein a product of an area ratio of the second portionto the first portion another portion to the portion and a ratio of atemperature drop amount due to the heat absorbing operation to atemperature rise amount due to the heat generating operation is set tobe more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a plurality of athermoelectric couple groups, a power terminal supplying a power to thethermoelectric element, and a contact surface which is provided on oneside of the thermoelectric element and is configured to contact with abody part of a user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs thethermal feedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, a heatgenerated from the thermoelectric element to the user; and a feedbackcontroller configured to: receive, via the communication module, a startmessage requesting outputting the thermal feedback, and control thethermoelectric couple array to perform a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation together for outputting a thermal grillfeedback by applying a forward power for the heat generating operationto a first portion of the thermoelectric couple groups and applying areverse power for the heat absorbing operation to a second portion ofthe thermoelectric couple groups when the forward power is applied tothe first portion, wherein a product of an area ratio of the secondportion to the first portion another portion to the portion and a ratioof a temperature drop amount due to the heat absorbing operation to atemperature rise amount due to the heat generating operation is set tobe more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to gamingcontroller for outputting a thermal feedback, wherein the gamingcontroller cooperates with a content reproduction device executing amultimedia content including a game and an experience application,receives a user input related to the multimedia content, and provides athermal experience related to the multimedia content by outputting thethermal feedback, the gaming controller may include: a casing having agrip portion gripped by a user and forming an exterior of the gamingcontroller; an input module receiving the user input according to amanipulation of the user; a communication module communicating with thecontent reproduction device; a heat outputting module including athermoelectric element, that is provided as a thermoelectric couplearray including a plurality of a thermoelectric couple groups andperforms a thermoelectric operation including a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying apower to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surface which isdisposed on the grip portion and configured to contact with the user,wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedback bytransmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a controller configured to:obtain, via the input module, the user input, send, via thecommunication module, the user input to the content reproduction device,receive, via the communication module, a feedback type information and afeedback intensity information from the content reproduction device,when the feedback type information indicates a hot feedback, apply, tothe thermoelectric element, a first power of which a current directionis a forward direction, when the feedback type information indicates acold feedback, apply, to the thermoelectric element, a second power ofwhich a current direction is a reverse direction, and when the feedbacktype information indicates a thermal grill feedback and the feedbackintensity information indicates a third intensity, apply a third powerto one portion of the thermoelectric couple array and a fourth power toanother portion of the thermoelectric couple array, wherein a currentdirection of the third power is the forward direction and a currentdirection of the fourth power is the reverse direction, wherein thethird power has a voltage magnitude corresponding to a first intensityof the hot feedback and the fourth power has a voltage magnitudecorrespond to a second intensity of the cold feedback, and wherein thefirst intensity is smaller than the second intensity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, examples, modes, types,and kinds of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which the present disclosure relates based on the detaileddescriptions that follow with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein the same reference numerals are used in the several figures torefer to the same parts, elements and components and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming controller as an implementation example ofthe feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates another gaming controller as an implementationexample of the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a wearable device as an implementation example of thefeedback device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates another wearable device as an implementation exampleof the feedback device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the configuration of the feedback deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the configuration of the feedback unitaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates an arrangement of a heat outputting module accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates another arrangement of the heat outputting moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 illustrates another arrangement of the heat outputting moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates another arrangement of the heat outputting moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the configuration of an application unitaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the applicationunit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 illustrates a heat generating operation for providing a hotfeedback according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a graph relating to an intensity of the hot feedbackaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 illustrates a heat absorbing operation for providing a coldfeedback according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a graph relating to an intensity of the cold feedbackaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a graph relating to the hot feedback and the cold feedback ofvarious intensities according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 28 is a graph relating to the hot feedback and the cold feedback ofvarious intensities according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 29 illustrates the intensity adjustment of the thermal feedbackusing an operating area control according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 30 illustrates the intensity adjustment of the thermal feedbackusing an operating time control according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 31 illustrates a thermal grill operation using an operating powercontrol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 32 is a table of operating voltages for providing the neutral grillfeedback by an operating power control manner according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 33 illustrates a thermal grill operation using an operating areacontrol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 34 illustrates a thermoelectric couple array composed ofthermoelectric couple groups having different area sizes for providing athermal grill feedback using the operating area control according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a thermal grill operation using anoperating time control according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 36 illustrates another example of a thermal grill operation usingan operating time control according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of a thermal grill operation using acombination of an operating area control and an operating time controlaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 38 illustrates another example of a thermal grill operation using acombination of an operating area control and an operating time controlaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 39 illustrates yet another example of a thermal grill operationusing a combination of an operating area control and an operating timecontrol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 40 is a graph showing a temperature change of the contact surfacein the heat generating operation according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 41 is a graph showing a thermal inversion illusion according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 42 is a graph showing to a temperature change of the contactsurface due to a buffering power according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 43 is a graph showing to a temperature change of the contactsurface due to a buffering power having multiple voltage valuesaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 44 is a graph showing a temperature change upon a termination ofthe thermal feedback of various intensities according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 45 is a graph showing a difference in temperature change ratebetween the hot feedback and the cold feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 46 is a graph showing a difference between the buffering durationat the end of the hot feedback and the cold feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 47 is a graph showing a temperature change of the contact surfaceat the end of the thermal grill feedback according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 48 is a graph showing an operation for eliminating warmth at theend of the thermal grill feedback according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat moving operationaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 50 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 49 .

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating another example of the heat movingoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 52 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 51 .

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of the heat movingoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 54 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 53 .

FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the heatmoving operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 56 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 55 .

FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 60 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 61 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 63 is a flowchart illustrating a seventh example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 64 is a flowchart illustrating an eighth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart illustrating a ninth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 66 is a flowchart illustrating a tenth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a thermoelectricoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed,and should be interpreted to include modifications or variations that donot depart from the spirit of the present disclosure.

The terms used in the present specification should be interpreted basedon the meaning of the term, in the context in which the term is usedthroughout the specification.

The drawings attached hereto are intended to illustrate the presentdisclosure, and the shapes shown in the drawings may be exaggerated tofacilitate understanding of the present disclosure, and the presentdisclosure is thus not limited to the drawings.

In the following description, a detailed description of configurationsor functions relating to the present disclosure that are known to thoseof ordinary skill may be omitted.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method for providinga thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, wherein the feedbackdevice comprises a heat outputting module which is provided as athermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operation includingat least one of a heat generating operation and a heat absorbingoperation and a contact surface which is configured to contact with abody of a user and transmit a heat generated by the thermoelectricoperation, the method may include: applying an operating power to thethermoelectric element to start the thermoelectric operation foroutputting the thermal feedback; stopping the application of theoperating power to terminate the thermoelectric operation; and when theapplication of the operating power is stopped, applying a bufferingpower to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperature returningspeed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversion illusion isprevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as anillusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to theoutputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contactsurface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

The thermal inversion illusion may be felt by the user as if thetemperature of the contact surface is opposite to a saturationtemperature of the thermoelectric operation with respect to the initialtemperature, even though the temperature of the contact surface is infact in a same direction as the saturation temperature.

The buffering power may have a same current direction with the operatingpower.

The buffering power may have a smaller voltage magnitude than theoperating power or the buffering power may have a smaller currentmagnitude than the operating power.

The method may further comprise: decreasing at least one of the voltagemagnitude and the current magnitude of the buffering power during theapplication of the buffering power.

The buffering power may be provided as a form of a pulse widthmodulation (PWM) signal.

When the operating power is provided as a form of a PWM signal, a dutyrate of the buffering power may be smaller than a duty rate of theoperating power.

The method may further comprise: decreasing the duty rate of thebuffering power during the application of the buffering power.

The thermoelectric element may be provided as a thermoelectric couplearray including a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and thebuffering power may be applied to a part of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple group.

The number of the thermoelectric couple groups to which the bufferingpower is applied may be smaller than the number of the thermoelectriccouple groups to which the operating power is applied.

The method may further comprise: reducing the number of thethermoelectric couple groups to which the buffering power is appliedduring the application of the buffering power.

Applying the buffering power may include applying the buffering powerwhen a predetermined time has passed after the application of theoperating power is stopped.

The feedback device may be configured to adjust an intensity of thethermal feedback and the applying the buffering power may be performedonly when the intensity of the outputted thermal feedback is greaterthan the predetermined intensity.

The feedback device may be configured to adjust an intensity of thethermal feedback, and the method may further comprise: obtaining aninformation on the intensity of the thermal feedback; generating theoperating power corresponding to the intensity of the thermal feedbackbased on the obtained information; and determining whether or not theapplying the buffering power is performed based on whether or not theintensity of the thermal feedback is greater than a predeterminedintensity.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: apply the operating power to the power terminal to startthe thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the thermoelectricoperation, and when the application of the operating power is stopped,apply a buffering power to the power terminal to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

The thermal inversion illusion may be felt by the user as if thetemperature of the contact surface is opposite to a saturationtemperature of the thermoelectric operation with respect to the initialtemperature even during the temperature of the contact surface being ina same direction with the saturation temperature.

The buffering power may have a same current direction with the operatingpower.

The buffering power may have a smaller voltage magnitude than theoperating power or the buffering power may have a smaller currentmagnitude than the operating power.

The feedback controller may decrease at least one of the voltagemagnitude and the current magnitude of the buffering power during theapplication of the buffering power.

The feedback controller may apply the buffering power as a form of a PWMsignal.

When the operating power is provided as a form of a PWM signal, a dutyrate of the buffering power may be smaller than a duty rate of theoperating power.

The feedback controller may reduce the duty rate of the buffering powerduring the application of the buffering power.

The thermoelectric element may be provided as a thermoelectric couplearray including a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and thefeedback device may apply the buffering power to a part of the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups when applying the buffering power.

The number of the thermoelectric couple groups to which the bufferingpower is applied may be smaller than the number of the thermoelectriccouple groups to which the operating power is applied.

Herein the feedback controller may reduce the number of thethermoelectric couple groups to which the buffering power is appliedduring the application of the buffering power.

The feedback controller may apply the buffering power when apredetermined time has passed after stopping the application of theoperating power.

The heat outputting module may be configured to adjust an intensity ofthe thermal feedback and the feedback controller may apply the bufferingpower only when the intensity of the outputted thermal feedback isgreater than the predetermined intensity.

The feedback controller may obtain an information on an intensity of thethermal feedback, generate the operating power corresponding to theintensity of the thermal feedback based on the obtained information, anddetermine whether to apply the buffering power based on whether theintensity of the thermal feedback is greater than a predeterminedintensity.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a thermoelectric couple array thatincludes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation and a contact surface which isconfigured to contact with a body of a user and transmit a heatgenerated by the thermoelectric operation, the method may include:applying an operating power to an operating group corresponding to atleast a part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups tostart the thermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback;stopping the application of the operating power for all the operatinggroup to terminate the thermoelectric operation so that the thermalfeedback ends; and performing, prior to the stopping, a bufferingoperation to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surfaceso that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the bufferingoperation includes stopping the application of the operating power for apart of the operating group and maintaining the application of theoperating power for a remainder of the operating group, and wherein thethermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation feltby the user as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedbackduring returning a temperature of the contact surface to an initialtemperature due to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array having a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performing a thermoelectric operation including atleast one of a heat generating operation and a heat absorbing operation,a power terminal supplying an operating power for the thermoelectricoperation to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surface which isprovided on one side of the thermoelectric element and is configured tocontact with a body part of a user, wherein the heat outputting moduleoutputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, aheat generated due to the thermoelectric operation to the user; and afeedback controller configured to: apply an operating power to anoperating group corresponding to at least a part of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to start the thermoelectric operation foroutputting the thermal feedback, stop the application of the operatingpower for all the operating group to terminate the thermoelectricoperation so that the thermal feedback ends, and perform a bufferingoperation to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surfaceso that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the feedbackcontroller performs the buffering operation, prior to stopping of theapplication of the operating power for all the operating group, bystopping the application of the operating power for a part of theoperating group and maintaining the application of the operating powerfor a remainder of the operating group, and wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to gamingcontroller, wherein the gaming controller is used as an input interface,of a content reproduction device reproducing a multimedia content,receiving a user input related to the multimedia content, and as anoutput interface, of the content reproduction device, providing athermal experience related to the multimedia content by outputting athermal feedback, the gaming controller may include: a casing having agrip portion gripped by a user and forming an exterior of the gamingcontroller; an input module receiving the user input according to amanipulation of the user; a communication module communicating with thecontent reproduction device; a heat outputting module including athermoelectric element performing a thermoelectric operation, a powerterminal applying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contactsurface which is disposed on the grip portion and configured to contactwith the user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermalfeedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated bythe thermoelectric operation to the user; and a controller configuredto: obtain, via the input module, the user input, send, via thecommunication module, the user input to the content reproduction device,receive, via the communication module, a feedback information from thecontent reproduction device, select one from predetermined voltagevalues as an operating voltage value based on an intensity of thefeedback included in the feedback information, generate an operatingpower having the operating voltage value, apply the operating power tothe heat outputting module so that the heat outputting module outputsthe thermal feedback, stop the application of the operating power sothat the heat outputting module stops outputting the thermal feedback,select one less than the operating voltage value from the predeterminedvoltage values as a buffering voltage, generate a buffering power havingthe buffering voltage value, and apply the buffering power to the heatoutputting module to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contactsurface so that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein thethermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation feltby the user as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedbackduring returning a temperature of the contact surface to an initialtemperature due to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

The controller may determine whether a current direction of theoperating power based on whether a type of the thermal feedback is a hotfeedback or a cold feedback, and determine a current direction of thebuffering power to be same with the current direction of the operatingpower.

The intensity of the thermal feedback may include a first intensity anda second intensity greater than the first intensity and thepredetermined voltage values may include a first voltage value and asecond voltage value greater than the first voltage value. Thecontroller may set the operating voltage value to the first voltagevalue when the intensity of the thermal feedback indicated by thefeedback information is the first intensity and set the operatingvoltage value to the second voltage value when the intensity of thethermal feedback indicated by the feedback information is the secondintensity. The controller may select the first voltage value as thevoltage value of the buffering power when the application of theoperating power having the second voltage value is stopped.

The controller may apply the buffering power only when the voltage valueof the operating power is greater than the first voltage value.

The intensity of the thermal feedback further may include a thirdintensity greater than the second intensity and the predeterminedvoltage values may further include a third voltage value greater thanthe second voltage value. The controller may set the operating voltagevalue to the third voltage value when the intensity of the thermalfeedback indicated by the feedback information is the third intensity.The controller may select the first voltage value as the voltage valueof the buffering power when the application of the operating powerhaving the third voltage value is stopped.

The intensity of the thermal feedback may further include a thirdintensity greater than the second intensity and the predeterminedvoltage values may further include a third voltage value greater thanthe second voltage value. The controller may set the operating voltagevalue to the third voltage value when the intensity of the thermalfeedback indicated by the feedback information is the third intensity.The controller may select the first voltage value and the second voltagevalue as the voltage value of the buffering power when the applicationof the operating power having the third voltage value is stopped. Thecontroller may apply the buffering power having the second voltage valuewhen the application of the operating power is terminated and change thevoltage value of the buffering power to the first voltage value when apredetermined time has passed from the termination of the application ofthe operating power.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to the thermoelectric element to startoutputting of the thermal feedback; stopping the application of theoperating power to terminate the outputting of the thermal feedback;generating a buffering power based on the type of the thermal feedback;and when the application of the operating power is stopped, applying thebuffering power to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

A voltage magnitude of the buffering power may be smaller than a voltagemagnitude of the operating power and set differently based on the typeof the thermal feedback.

The generating may include generating the buffering power having a firstvoltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and generating thebuffering power having a second voltage of which a voltage magnitude isgreater than a voltage magnitude of the first voltage.

The generating may include generating the buffering power having a firstvoltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and generating thebuffering power having a second voltage of which a voltage magnitude issmaller than a voltage magnitude of the first voltage.

A voltage magnitude of the buffering power may be smaller than a voltagemagnitude of the operating power and a current direction of thebuffering power may be set differently based on the type of the thermalfeedback.

The generating may include generating the buffering power having a firstcurrent when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and generating thebuffering power having a second current of which a current magnitude isgreater than a current magnitude of the first current.

The generating may include generating the buffering power having a firstcurrent when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and generating thebuffering power having a second current of which a current magnitude issmaller than a current magnitude of the first current.

A voltage magnitude ratio of the buffering power to the operating powermay be smaller than 1 and set differently based on the type of thethermal feedback.

The applying may include applying the operating power having a firstvoltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying theoperating power having a second voltage when the thermal feedback is thecold feedback. The generating may include generating the buffering powerhaving a third voltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andgenerating the buffering power having a fourth voltage when the thermalfeedback is the cold feedback. A ratio of the third voltage to the firstvoltage may be greater than a ratio of the fourth voltage to the secondvoltage.

The applying may include applying the operating power having a firstvoltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying theoperating power having a second voltage when the thermal feedback is thecold feedback. The generating may include generating the buffering powerhaving a third voltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andgenerating the buffering power having a fourth voltage when the thermalfeedback is the cold feedback. A ratio of the third voltage to the firstvoltage may be smaller than a ratio of the fourth voltage to the secondvoltage.

A current magnitude ratio of the buffering power to the operating powermay be smaller than 1 and set differently based on the type of thethermal feedback.

The applying may include applying the operating power having a firstcurrent when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying theoperating power having a second current when the thermal feedback is thecold feedback. The generating may include generating the buffering powerhaving a third current when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andgenerating the buffering power having a fourth current when the thermalfeedback is the cold feedback. A current magnitude ratio of the thirdcurrent to the first current may be greater than a ratio of the fourthcurrent to the second current.

The applying may include applying the operating power having a firstcurrent when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying theoperating power having a second current when the thermal feedback is thecold feedback. The generating may include generating the buffering powerhaving a third current when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andgenerating the buffering power having a fourth current when the thermalfeedback is the cold feedback. A current magnitude ratio of the thirdcurrent to the first current may be smaller than a ratio of the fourthcurrent to the second current.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to the thermoelectric element to startoutputting of the thermal feedback; stopping the application of theoperating power to terminate the outputting of the thermal feedback;obtaining a buffering duration which is set differently based on thetype of the thermal feedback; and when the application of the operatingpower is stopped, applying a buffering power for the buffering durationto the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperature returning speed ofthe contact surface so that a thermal inversion illusion is prevented,wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as an illusionarysensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to the outputtedthermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contact surfaceto an initial temperature due to the termination of the thermoelectricoperation.

The applying may include applying the buffering power for a firstduration when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying thebuffering power for a second duration which is greater than the firstduration when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

The applying may include applying the buffering power for a firstduration when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and applying thebuffering power for a second duration which is smaller than the firstduration when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a thermoelectric couple array thatincludes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured tocontact with a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to an operating group to start outputting of thethermal feedback, the operating group including at least part of theplurality of the thermoelectric couple groups; stopping the applicationof the operating power to terminate the outputting of the thermalfeedback; determining a buffering group based on the type of thethermoelectric operation, the buffering group including at least part ofthe plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, wherein the number ofthe thermoelectric couple groups included in the buffering group issmaller than the number of the thermoelectric couple groups included inthe operating group; and when the application of the operating power isstopped, applying a buffering power to the buffering group to reduce atemperature returning speed of the contact surface so that a thermalinversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusionis defined as an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensationopposite to the outputted thermal feedback during returning atemperature of the contact surface to an initial temperature due to thetermination of the thermoelectric operation.

The buffering group may include a first number of the thermoelectriccouple groups when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and thebuffering group may include a second number of the thermoelectric couplegroups, the second number being greater than the first number.

The buffering group may include a first number of the thermoelectriccouple groups when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and thebuffering group may include a second number of the thermoelectric couplegroups, the second number being smaller than the first number.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a thermoelectric couple array thatincludes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured tocontact with a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining aninformation on a type of the thermal feedback including a hot feedbackand a cold feedback; applying an operating power according to the typeof the thermal feedback to an operating group to start outputting of thethermal feedback, the operating group including at least part of theplurality of the thermoelectric couple groups; stopping the applicationof the operating power to terminate the outputting of the thermalfeedback; and performing a buffering operation to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface upon the stopping of theapplication of the operating power so that a thermal inversion illusionis prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as anillusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to theoutputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contactsurface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation, and wherein the buffering operation isperformed, before the application of the operating power related to allof the operating group is stopped, by maintaining the application of theoperating power to a part of the operating group and stopping theapplication of the operating power to the rest of the operating group.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting of the thermal feedback, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the outputting of thethermal feedback, generate a buffering power based on the type of thethermal feedback, and when the application of the operating power isstopped, apply the buffering power to the thermoelectric element toreduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surface so that athermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversionillusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by the user as asensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback during returning atemperature of the contact surface to an initial temperature due to thetermination of the thermoelectric operation.

A voltage magnitude of the buffering power may be smaller than a voltagemagnitude of the operating power and set differently based on the typeof the thermal feedback.

The buffering power may have a first voltage when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering power may have a second voltage ofwhich a voltage magnitude is greater than a voltage magnitude of thefirst voltage when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

The buffering power may have a first voltage when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering power may have a second voltage ofwhich a voltage magnitude is smaller than a voltage magnitude of thefirst voltage when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

A voltage magnitude of the buffering power may be smaller than a voltagemagnitude of the operating power and a current direction of thebuffering power may be set differently based on the type of the thermalfeedback.

The buffering power may have a first current when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering power may have a second current ofwhich a current magnitude is greater than a current magnitude of thefirst current when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

The buffering power may have a first current when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering power may have a second current ofwhich a current magnitude is smaller than a current magnitude of thefirst current when the thermal feedback is the cold feedback.

A voltage magnitude ratio of the buffering power to the operating powermay be smaller than 1 and set differently based on the type of thethermal feedback.

The operating power may have a first voltage when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the operating power may have a second voltagewhen the thermal feedback is the cold feedback. The buffering power mayhave a third voltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andthe buffering power may have a fourth voltage when the thermal feedbackis the cold feedback. A ratio of the third voltage to the first voltagemay be greater than a ratio of the fourth voltage to the second voltage.

The operating power may have a first voltage when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the operating power may have a second voltagewhen the thermal feedback is the cold feedback. The buffering power mayhave a third voltage when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andthe buffering power may have a fourth voltage when the thermal feedbackis the cold feedback. A ratio of the third voltage to the first voltagemay be smaller than a ratio of the fourth voltage to the second voltage.

A current magnitude ratio of the buffering power to the operating powermay be smaller than 1 and set differently based on the type of thethermal feedback.

The operating power may have a first current when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the operating power may have a second currentwhen the thermal feedback is the cold feedback. The buffering power mayhave a third current when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andthe buffering power may have a fourth current when the thermal feedbackis the cold feedback. A current magnitude ratio of the third current tothe first current may be greater than a ratio of the fourth current tothe second current.

The operating power may have a first current when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the operating power may have a second currentwhen the thermal feedback is the cold feedback. The buffering power mayhave a third current when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback andthe buffering power may have a fourth current when the thermal feedbackis the cold feedback. A current magnitude ratio of the third current tothe first current may be smaller than a ratio of the fourth current tothe second current.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting of the thermal feedback, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the outputting of thethermal feedback, obtain a buffering duration which is set differentlybased on the type of the thermal feedback, and when the application ofthe operating power is stopped, apply a buffering power for thebuffering duration to the thermoelectric element to reduce a temperaturereturning speed of the contact surface so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation.

The buffering duration may be a first duration when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering duration may be a second durationwhich is greater than the first duration when the thermal feedback isthe cold feedback.

The buffering duration may be a first duration when the thermal feedbackis the hot feedback and the buffering duration may be a second durationwhich is smaller than the first duration when the thermal feedback isthe cold feedback.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups and performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to an operating group tostart outputting of the thermal feedback, the operating group includingat least part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the outputting ofthe thermal feedback, determine a buffering group based on the type ofthe thermoelectric operation, the buffering group including at leastpart of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, wherein thenumber of the thermoelectric couple groups included in the bufferinggroup is smaller than the number of the thermoelectric couple groupsincluded in the operating group, and when the application of theoperating power is stopped, apply a buffering power to the bufferinggroup to reduce a temperature returning speed of the contact surface sothat a thermal inversion illusion is prevented, wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation.

The buffering group may include a first number of the thermoelectriccouple groups when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and thebuffering group may include a second number of the thermoelectric couplegroups, the second number being greater than the first number.

The buffering group may include a first number of the thermoelectriccouple groups when the thermal feedback is the hot feedback and thebuffering group may include a second number of the thermoelectric couplegroups, the second number being smaller than the first number.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric couple array that includesa plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups and performing athermoelectric operation including at least one of a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying anoperating power for the thermoelectric operation to the thermoelectricelement, and a contact surface which is provided on one side of thethermoelectric element and is configured to contact with a body part ofa user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedbackby transmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated due to thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a feedback controllerconfigured to: obtain an information on a type of the thermal feedbackincluding a hot feedback and a cold feedback, apply an operating poweraccording to the type of the thermal feedback to an operating group tostart outputting of the thermal feedback, the operating group includingat least part of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups, stopthe application of the operating power to terminate the outputting ofthe thermal feedback; and perform a buffering operation to reduce atemperature returning speed of the contact surface upon the stopping ofthe application of the operating power so that a thermal inversionillusion is prevented, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is definedas an illusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite tothe outputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of thecontact surface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation, and wherein the buffering operation isperformed, before the application of the operating power related to allof the operating group is stopped, by maintaining the application of theoperating power to a part of the operating group and stopping theapplication of the operating power to the rest of the operating group.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback including a hot feedback, a cold feedbackand a thermal grill feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a thermoelectric couple array thatincludes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation, a heatabsorbing operation and a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined and acontact surface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation, the methodmay include: applying a forward power to a first group of the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second group of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat absorbing operation sothat the thermoelectric couple array performs the thermal grilloperation and starts outputting of the thermal grill feedback; andstopping the application of the forward power and the application of thereverse power, wherein the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power are stopped at different time points.

A first portion of the contact surface and a second portion of thecontact surface may return to a thermal equilibrium state at asubstantially same time by stopping the application of the forward powerand the reverse power at the different time points. The first portionmay be adjacent to the first group performing the heat generatingoperation and a second portion may be adjacent to the second groupperforming the heat absorbing operation.

A voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the reverse power may begreater than a voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the forwardpower so that a temperature rise amount of the first group according tothe heat generating operation may be smaller than a temperature dropamount of the second group according to the heat absorbing operation andthe user may be prevented from feeling a hot sensation or a coldsensation when the thermal grill feedback is provided to the user. Theapplication of the reverse power may be stopped before the applicationof the forward voltage is stopped so that the first group of which thetemperature rise amount may be smaller than the temperature drop amountof the second group and the second group may return to the thermalequilibrium state at an initial temperature.

The application of the forward power may be stopped before theapplication of the reverse power is stopped to prevent the contactsurface from reaching the thermal equilibrium state at a temperaturehigher than an initial temperature due to a waste heat of thethermoelectric operation.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup performing a heat generating operation and a second thermoelectriccouple group performing a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback by transmitting,via the contact surface, a hot heat according to the heat generatingoperation and a cold heat according to the heat absorbing operation tothe user; and a feedback controller configured to: apply a forward powerto a first thermoelectric couple group and a reverse power to a secondthermoelectric couple group so that the thermoelectric element performsthe thermal grill operation and starts outputting of the thermal grillfeedback, and stop the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power, wherein the application of the forwardpower and the application of the reverse power are stopped at differenttime points.

The feedback controller may adjust a first time point related tostopping of the application of the forward power and a second time pointrelated to stopping of the application of the reverse power differentlyso that a first portion of the contact surface and a second portion ofthe contact surface may reach a thermal equilibrium state at asubstantially same time. The first portion may be adjacent to the firstthermoelectric couple group performing the heat generating operation anda second portion may be adjacent to the second thermoelectric couplegroup performing the heat absorbing operation.

The feedback controller may adjust the reverse power to have a voltagemagnitude or a current magnitude greater than the forward power so thata temperature rise amount of the first thermoelectric couple groupaccording to the heat generating operation may be smaller than atemperature drop amount of the second thermoelectric group according tothe heat absorbing operation and the user may be prevented from feelinga hot sensation or a cold sensation when the thermal grill feedback isprovided to the user, and stop the application of the reverse powerbefore stopping the application of the forward voltage so that the firstthermoelectric couple group of which the temperature rise amount may begreater than the temperature drop amount of the second thermoelectriccouple group and the second group may return to the thermal equilibriumstate at an initial temperature.

The feedback controller may prevent the contact surface from reachingthe thermal equilibrium state at a temperature higher than an initialtemperature due to a waste heat of the thermoelectric operation, bystopping the application of the forward power before stopping theapplication of the reverse power.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback including a hot feedback, a cold feedbackand a thermal grill feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a thermoelectric couple array thatincludes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups and performs athermoelectric operation including a heat generating operation, a heatabsorbing operation and a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined and acontact surface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric operation, the methodmay include: applying a forward power to a first group of the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second group of the plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups to perform the heat absorbing operation sothat the thermoelectric couple array performs the thermal grilloperation and starts outputting of the thermal grill feedback; stoppingthe application of the forward power and the application of the reversepower in order to terminate outputting of the thermal grill feedback;and applying a compensation power to at least one of the first group andthe second group so that the contact surface returns to an initialtemperature.

The application of the forward power and the application of the reversepower may be stopped at substantially a same time, e.g., within acertain number of clock cycles.

A voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the reverse power may begreater than a voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the forwardpower so that a temperature rise amount of the first group according tothe heat generating operation may be smaller than a temperature dropamount of the second group according to the heat absorbing operation andthe user may be prevented from feeling a hot sensation or a coldsensation when the thermal grill feedback is provided to the user. Thecompensation power may have a same current direction with the forwardpower so that the first group of which the temperature rise amount maybe smaller than the temperature drop amount of the second group and thesecond group may reach the thermal equilibrium state at an initialtemperature.

A voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the reverse power may begreater than a voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the forwardpower so that a temperature rise amount of the first group according tothe heat generating operation may be smaller than a temperature dropamount of the second group according to the heat absorbing operation andthe user may be prevented from feeling a hot sensation or a coldsensation when the thermal grill feedback is provided to the user. Theapplying the compensation power may include applying a firstcompensation power to the first group and applying a second compensationpower to the second group of which a current direction is opposite tothe first compensation power. One having a same current direction withthe forward power among the first compensation power and the secondcompensation power may have at least of a voltage magnitude, a currentmagnitude and an application duration greater than the other of thefirst compensation power and the second compensation power.

The compensation power may have a same current direction with thereverse power to prevent the contact surface from reaching the thermalequilibrium state at a temperature higher than an initial temperaturedue to a waste heat of the thermoelectric operation.

The applying the compensation power may include applying a firstcompensation power to the first group and applying a second compensationpower to the second group of which a current direction is opposite to acurrent direction of the first compensation power. One having a samecurrent direction with the reverse power among the first compensationpower and the second compensation power may have at least of a voltagemagnitude, a current magnitude and an application duration greater thanthe other of the first compensation power and the second compensationpower.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup performing a heat generating operation and a second thermoelectriccouple group performing a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback by transmitting,via the contact surface, a hot heat according to the heat generatingoperation and a cold heat according to the heat absorbing operation tothe user; and a feedback controller configured to: apply a forward powerto the first thermoelectric couple group to perform the heat generatingoperation and a reverse power to a second thermoelectric couple group toperform the heat absorbing operation so that the thermoelectric couplearray performs the thermal grill operation and starts outputting of thethermal grill feedback, stop the application of the forward power andthe reverse power in order to terminate outputting of the thermal grillfeedback, and apply a compensation power to at least one of the firstthermoelectric couple group and the second thermoelectric couple groupso that the contact surface returns to an initial temperature.

The feedback controller may stop the application of the forward powerand the application of the reverse power at substantially a same time,e.g., within a certain number of clock cycles.

The feedback controller may adjust the reverse power to have a voltagemagnitude or a current magnitude greater than the forward power so thata temperature rise amount of the first thermoelectric couple groupaccording to the heat generating operation may be smaller than atemperature drop amount of the second thermoelectric couple groupaccording to the heat absorbing operation and the user may be preventedfrom feeling a hot sensation or a cold sensation when the thermal grillfeedback is provided to the user. The feedback controller may adjust thecompensation power to have a same current direction with the forwardpower so that the first thermoelectric couple group of which thetemperature rise amount may be smaller than the temperature drop amountof the second thermoelectric couple group and the second thermoelectriccouple group may reach the thermal equilibrium state at an initialtemperature.

The feedback controller may adjust the reverse power to have a voltagemagnitude or a current magnitude greater than the forward power so thata temperature rise amount of the first thermoelectric couple groupaccording to the heat generating operation may be smaller than atemperature drop amount of the second thermoelectric couple groupaccording to the heat absorbing operation and the user may be preventedfrom feeling a hot sensation or a cold sensation when the thermal grillfeedback is provided to the user. The feedback controller may apply afirst compensation power to the first thermoelectric couple group and asecond compensation power of which a current direction is opposite tothe first compensation power. One having a same current direction withthe forward power among the first compensation power and the secondcompensation power may have at least of a voltage magnitude, a currentmagnitude and an application duration greater than the other of thefirst compensation power and the second compensation power.

The feedback controller may apply the compensation power having a samecurrent direction with the reverse power to prevent the contact surfacefrom reaching the thermal equilibrium state at a temperature higher thanan initial temperature due to a waste heat of the thermoelectricoperation.

The feedback controller may apply a first compensation power to thefirst thermoelectric couple group and a second compensation power to thesecond thermoelectric couple group of which a current direction isopposite to a current direction of the first compensation power. Onehaving a same current direction with the reverse power among the firstcompensation power and the second compensation power may have at leastof a voltage magnitude, a current magnitude and an application durationgreater than the other of the first compensation power and the secondcompensation power.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric element and performs a thermoelectric operationincluding at least one of a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation and a contact surface which is configured to contactwith a body of a user and transmit a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation, the method may include: obtaining a startmessage requesting outputting the thermal feedback; applying, upon theobtaining the start message, an operating power to the thermoelectricelement to start outputting the thermal feedback which corresponds tothe start message; stopping the application of the operating power toterminate the thermoelectric operation; when the application of theoperating power is stopped, performing a buffering operation reducing atemperature returning speed of the contact surface for preventing athermal inversion illusion due to the termination of the thermoelectricoperation, wherein the thermal inversion illusion is defined as anillusionary sensation felt by the user as a sensation opposite to theoutputted thermal feedback during returning a temperature of the contactsurface to an initial temperature due to the termination of thethermoelectric operation; and when a new start message is obtainedduring performing the buffering operation, stopping the bufferingoperation and applying the operating power to the thermoelectric elementto start outputting the thermal feedback which corresponds to the newstart message.

The start message may include a providing duration of the thermalfeedback, and the stopping the application of the operating power may beperformed after the operating power is applied for the providingduration.

Here, the method may further comprise: obtaining an end messagerequesting terminating the thermal feedback, and the stopping theapplication of the operating power may performed upon the obtaining theend message.

The stopping the application of the operating power may be performedafter the operating power is applied for a predetermined duration.

The buffering operation may be performed by reducing a voltage magnitudeor a current magnitude of the operating power.

The thermoelectric element may be provided as a thermoelectric couplearray which includes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups whichare controlled individually, and the buffering operation may beperformed by reducing the number of the thermoelectric couple groups towhich the operating power is applied.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with a content reproduction deviceexecuting a multimedia content including a game and an experienceapplication; a heat outputting module including a thermoelectric elementperforming a thermoelectric operation including at least one of a heatgenerating operation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated due to the thermoelectric operation tothe user so that a thermal experience related to the multimedia isprovided to the user; and a feedback controller configured to: receive,via the communication module, a start message requesting outputting thethermal feedback, apply, upon the receipt of the start message, anoperating power to the thermoelectric element to start outputting thethermal feedback which corresponds to the start message, stop theapplication of the operating power to terminate the thermoelectricoperation, when the application of the operating power is stopped,perform a buffering operation reducing a temperature returning speed ofthe contact surface for preventing a thermal inversion illusion due tothe termination of the thermoelectric operation, wherein the thermalinversion illusion is defined as an illusionary sensation felt by theuser as a sensation opposite to the outputted thermal feedback duringreturning a temperature of the contact surface to an initial temperaturedue to the termination of the thermoelectric operation, and when a newstart message is received during performing the buffering operation,stop the buffering operation and apply the operating power to thethermoelectric element to start outputting the thermal feedback whichcorresponds to the new start message.

The start message may include a providing duration of the thermalfeedback, and the feedback controller may stop the application of theoperating power after applying the operating power for the providingduration.

The feedback controller may receive, via the communication module, anend message requesting terminating the thermal feedback, and stop theapplication of the operating power upon the receipt of the end message.

The feedback controller may stop the application of the operating powerafter applying the operating power for a predetermined duration.

The feedback controller may perform the buffering operation by reducinga voltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the operating power.

The thermoelectric element may be provided as a thermoelectric couplearray which includes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups whichare controlled individually. The feedback device may perform thebuffering operation by reducing the number of the thermoelectric couplegroups to which the operating power is applied.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting a heatgenerated by a thermoelectric element, to a user via a contact surfacecontacting with a body part of the user, the method may include:obtaining a feedback start message including a type of the thermalfeedback; and when the type of the thermal feedback is a thermal grillfeedback, outputting the thermal grill feedback by performing a thermalgrill operation in which a heat generating operation and a heatabsorbing operation is combined, wherein the outputting includesapplying a forward power to the thermoelectric element to perform theheat generating operation, applying a reverse power of which a currentdirection is opposite to the forward power to the thermoelectric elementto perform the heat absorbing operation, and the application of theforward power and the application of the reverse power is repeatedalternatively.

Each of an application duration of the forward voltage and anapplication duration of the reverse voltage may be smaller than aperception time in which the user may feel a hot sensation according tothe heat generating operation or a cold sensation according to the heatabsorbing operation.

An application duration of the forward power may be smaller than anapplication duration of the reverse power to prevent the user fromfeeling a hot sensation or a cold sensation when the thermal grillfeedback is provided to the user.

A ratio of the application duration of the reverse power to theapplication duration of the forward power may be more than 1.5 and lessthan 5.0.

An application duration of the forward power and an application durationof the reverse power may be set to be same and a voltage magnitude or acurrent magnitude of the forward power may be set to be smaller than avoltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the reverse power in orderto adjust a temperature rise amount of the contact surface according tothe application of the forward power to be smaller than a temperaturedrop amount of the contact surface according to the application of thereverse power.

A voltage magnitude of at least one of the forward power and the reversepower be set to adjust a ratio of the temperature drop amount to thetemperature rise amount to be more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

A product of a ratio of an application duration of the reverse power toan application duration of the forward power and a ratio of atemperature drop amount to the temperature rise amount may be more than1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element performing a heatgenerating operation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated due to the heat generating operationor the heat absorbing operation; and a feedback controller configuredto: receive, via the communication module, a feedback start messageincluding a type of the thermal feedback, when the type of the thermalfeedback may be a thermal grill feedback, and output the thermal grillfeedback by performing a thermal grill operation in which the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is combined,wherein the feedback controller applies a forward power to thethermoelectric element to perform the heat generating operation and areverse power of which a current direction is opposite to the forwardpower to the thermoelectric element to perform the heat absorbingoperation and repeats the application of the forward power and theapplication of the reverse power alternatively so that the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal grill feedback.

Each of an application duration of the forward voltage and anapplication duration of the reverse voltage may be smaller than aperception time in which the user may feel a hot sensation according tothe heat generating operation or a cold sensation according to the heatabsorbing operation.

The feedback controller may adjust an application duration of theforward power to be smaller than an application duration of the reversepower to prevent the user from feeling a hot sensation or a coldsensation when the thermal grill feedback is provided to the user.

A ratio of the application duration of the reverse power to theapplication duration of the forward power may be more than 1.5 and lessthan 5.0.

The feedback controller may adjust an application duration of theforward power and an application duration of the reverse power to besame, and set the forward power to have a voltage magnitude or a currentmagnitude smaller than the reverse power to adjust a temperature riseamount of the contact surface according to the application of theforward power to be smaller than a temperature drop amount of thecontact surface according to the application of the reverse power.

The feedback controller may set a voltage magnitude of at least one ofthe forward power and the reverse power to adjust a ratio of thetemperature drop amount to the temperature rise amount to be more than1.5 and less than 5.0.

A product of a ratio of an application duration of the reverse power toan application duration of the forward power and a ratio of atemperature drop amount to the temperature rise amount may be more than1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array including a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performs a thermoelectric operation, and a contactsurface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric couple array, the methodmay include: applying a forward power for a heat generating operationand a reverse power for a heat absorbing operation, alternatively to afirst group of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups;applying the forward power and the reverse power alternatively to asecond group of the plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups,wherein the application of the forward power to the second group isperformed when the application of the reverse power to the first groupis performed and the application of the reverse power to the secondgroup is performed when the application of the forward power to thefirst group is performed; and outputting a thermal grill feedback by thethermoelectric couple array performing the heat generating operation andthe heat absorbing operation.

An alternating cycle of the forward power and the reverse power may begreater than a delay time from the start of the application of theforward power and the reverse power until the contact surface reaches atemperature at which the user senses the thermal feedback.

An application duration of the forward power and an application durationof the reverse power may be set to be same, a voltage magnitude or acurrent magnitude of the forward power may be set to be smaller than avoltage magnitude or a current magnitude of the reverse power in orderto adjust a temperature rise amount of the contact surface according tothe application of the forward power to be smaller than a temperaturedrop amount of the contact surface according to the application of thereverse power.

A voltage magnitude of at least one of the forward power and the reversepower may be set to adjust a ratio of the temperature drop amount to thetemperature rise amount to be more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a first thermoelectric couplegroup and a second thermoelectric couple group, a power terminalsupplying a power to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surfacewhich is provided on one side of the thermoelectric element and isconfigured to contact with a body part of a user, wherein the heatoutputting module outputs the thermal feedback by transmitting, via thecontact surface, a heat generated from the thermoelectric element to theuser; and a feedback controller configured to: receive, via thecommunication module, a start message requesting outputting the thermalfeedback, apply a forward power for a heat generating operation and areverse power for a heat absorbing operation, alternatively to the firstthermoelectric group, apply the forward power and the reverse poweralternatively to the second thermoelectric group, and control thethermoelectric couple array to output a thermal grill feedback byapplying the forward power to the first thermoelectric couple group andthe reverse power to the second thermoelectric couple groupsimultaneously and applying the reverse power to the firstthermoelectric couple group and the forward power to the secondthermoelectric couple group simultaneously.

An alternating cycle of the forward power and the reverse power may begreater than a delay time from the start of the application of theforward power and the reverse power until the contact surface reaches atemperature at which the user senses the thermal feedback.

The feedback controller may adjust an application duration of theforward power and an application duration of the reverse power to besame, and set the forward power to have a voltage magnitude or a currentmagnitude smaller than the reverse power to adjust a temperature riseamount of the contact surface according to the application of theforward power to be smaller than a temperature drop amount of thecontact surface according to the application of the reverse power.

The feedback controller may set a voltage magnitude of at least one ofthe forward power and the reverse power in order to adjust a ratio ofthe temperature drop amount to the temperature rise amount to be morethan 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to method forproviding a thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device, whereinthe feedback device comprises a heat outputting module which is providedas a thermoelectric couple array including a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups and performs a thermoelectric operation, and a contactsurface which is configured to contact with a body of a user andtransmit a heat generated by the thermoelectric couple array, the methodmay include: applying a forward power for a heat generating operation toa first portion of the thermoelectric couple groups; applying a reversepower for a heat absorbing operation to a second portion of thethermoelectric couple groups when the forward power is applied to thefirst portion of the thermoelectric couple groups; and outputting athermal grill feedback by the thermoelectric couple array performing theheat generating operation and the heat absorbing operationsimultaneously, wherein a product of an area ratio of the second portionto the first portion another portion to the portion and a ratio of atemperature drop amount due to the heat absorbing operation to atemperature rise amount due to the heat generating operation is set tobe more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to feedback devicefor providing a thermal feedback, the device may include: acommunication module communicating with an external device; a heatoutputting module including a thermoelectric element provided as athermoelectric couple array that includes a plurality of athermoelectric couple groups, a power terminal supplying a power to thethermoelectric element, and a contact surface which is provided on oneside of the thermoelectric element and is configured to contact with abody part of a user, wherein the heat outputting module outputs thethermal feedback by transmitting, via the contact surface, a heatgenerated from the thermoelectric element to the user; and a feedbackcontroller configured to: receive, via the communication module, a startmessage requesting outputting the thermal feedback, and control thethermoelectric couple array to perform a heat generating operation and aheat absorbing operation together for outputting a thermal grillfeedback by applying a forward power for the heat generating operationto a first portion of the thermoelectric couple groups and applying areverse power for the heat absorbing operation to a second portion ofthe thermoelectric couple groups when the forward power is applied tothe first portion, wherein a product of an area ratio of the secondportion to the first portion another portion to the portion and a ratioof a temperature drop amount due to the heat absorbing operation to atemperature rise amount due to the heat generating operation is set tobe more than 1.5 and less than 5.0.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to gamingcontroller for outputting a thermal feedback, wherein the gamingcontroller cooperates with a content reproduction device executing amultimedia content including a game and an experience application,receives a user input related to the multimedia content, and provides athermal experience related to the multimedia content by outputting thethermal feedback, the gaming controller may include: a casing having agrip portion gripped by a user and forming an exterior of the gamingcontroller; an input module receiving the user input according to amanipulation of the user; a communication module communicating with thecontent reproduction device; a heat outputting module including athermoelectric element, that is provided as a thermoelectric couplearray including a plurality of a thermoelectric couple groups andperforms a thermoelectric operation including a heat generatingoperation and a heat absorbing operation, a power terminal supplying apower to the thermoelectric element, and a contact surface which isdisposed on the grip portion and configured to contact with the user,wherein the heat outputting module outputs the thermal feedback bytransmitting, via the contact surface, a heat generated by thethermoelectric operation to the user; and a controller configured to:obtain, via the input module, the user input, send, via thecommunication module, the user input to the content reproduction device,receive, via the communication module, a feedback type information and afeedback intensity information from the content reproduction device,when the feedback type information indicates a hot feedback, apply, tothe thermoelectric element, a first power of which a current directionis a forward direction, when the feedback type information indicates acold feedback, apply, to the thermoelectric element, a second power ofwhich a current direction is a reverse direction, and when the feedbacktype information indicates a thermal grill feedback and the feedbackintensity information indicates a third intensity, apply a third powerto one portion of the thermoelectric couple array and a fourth power toanother portion of the thermoelectric couple array, wherein a currentdirection of the third power is the forward direction and a currentdirection of the fourth power is the reverse direction, wherein thethird power has a voltage magnitude corresponding to a first intensityof the hot feedback and the fourth power has a voltage magnitudecorrespond to a second intensity of the cold feedback, and wherein thefirst intensity is smaller than the second intensity.

When the feedback type information indicates a thermal grill feedbackand the feedback intensity information indicates a fourth intensitygreater than the third intensity, the controller may apply a fifth powerto the one portion of the thermoelectric couple array and a sixth powerto another portion of the thermoelectric couple array. A currentdirection of the fifth power may be the forward direction and a currentdirection of the sixth power is the reverse direction. The fifth powermay have a voltage magnitude greater corresponding to a fifth intensitygreater than the first intensity of the hot feedback and the fourthpower may have a voltage magnitude correspond to a sixth intensitygreater than the second intensity of the cold feedback. The fifthintensity may be smaller than the sixth intensity.

The plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups may form onedimensional array. The thermoelectric couple groups included in the oneportion may be disposed on a (2n)-th line of the one-dimensional arrayand the thermoelectric couple groups included in another portion may bedisposed on a (2n+1)-th line of the one-dimensional array, where (n) isa natural number.

The plurality of the thermoelectric couple groups may formtwo-dimensional array. The thermoelectric couple groups included in theone portion may be separated each other, the thermoelectric couplegroups included in another portion may be separated each other and thethermoelectric couple groups included in the one portion and thethermoelectric couple groups included in another portion may be adjacentto each other.

A product of a first ratio and a second ratio may be more than 1.5 andless than 5.0. The first ratio may be a ratio of a temperature dropamount due to the cold feedback having the second intensity to atemperature rise amount due to the hot feedback having the firstintensity. The second ratio may be an area ratio of the one portion toanother portion.

1. Feedback Device

Hereinafter, a feedback device 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure will be described.

The feedback device 100 provides a thermal feedback to a user. Inparticular, the feedback device 100 may provide thermal feedback thatapplies heat to the user or absorbs heat from the user, by performing aheat generating operation or a heat absorbing operation.

The feedback device 100 as a device outputting the thermal feedback canbe used in a wide range of applications where the thermal feedback canprovide a thermal experience associated with a reproduction of amultimedia content such as games, videos, movies, VR/AR applications.The feedback device 100 may cooperate with a content reproduction device(e.g., a game console or a PC), which plays multimedia contents commonlyprovided in the form of a game and an experience application. Accordingto the development of technology, the feedback device 100 itself mayalso serve as the content reproduction device for executing multimediacontents.

1.1. Thermal Feedback

The thermal feedback is a kind of thermal stimulation that makes theuser feel a thermal sensation by stimulating the thermal sensory organsof the user which are distributed throughout the body of the user. Inthe present specification, thermal feedback refers to all the thermalstimuli that may stimulate the user's thermal sensory system.

Representative examples of the thermal feedback include a hot feedbackand a cold feedback. The hot feedback means the thermal feedback makingthe user feel a hot sensation by applying a “hot heat” or a positiveheat to a hot spot on the user's skin. The cold feedback means thethermal feedback making the user feel a cold sensation by applying a“cold heat” or a negative heat to a cold spot on the user's skin.

Since the heat is a physical quantity represented by a scalar form, theexpression, “apply cold heat,” or “apply negative heat,” may not be anexact expression from a physical point of view. For the convenience ofthe present description, however, “absorbing heat” may be referred to“applying cold heat” or “transferring cold heat.” The term of “negativeheat” may be also used instead of “cold heat.”

Further, the thermal feedback in the present specification may furtherinclude a thermal grill feedback in addition to the hot feedback and thecold feedback. When the hot heat and the cold heat are given at the sametime, the user perceives a pain sensation instead of recognizing the hotsensation and the cold sensation individually. This pain sensation isreferred to as a so-called thermal grill illusion (TGI). That is, thethermal grill feedback means a thermal feedback which applies acombination of the hot heat and the cold heat, and can be provided byoutputting the hot feedback and the cold feedback simultaneously. A moredetailed explanation of the thermal grill feedback will be providedbelow.

1.2. Implementation Example of Feedback Device

The feedback device 100 providing the thermal feedback described abovemay be implemented in various forms. Hereinafter, some representativeimplementations of the feedback device 100 will be described.

1.2.1. Gaming Controller

One implementation example of the feedback device 100 is the gamingcontroller 100 a.

Here, the gaming controller 100 a may be an input for receiving a usermanipulation in a game environment. The gaming controller 100 a receivesthe user manipulation used, e.g., in a videogame and communicates dataregarding the user manipulation to a device executing a game program,such as a game console, a computer, a tablet, a smart phone, etc. In thecase of a portable game machine, the gaming controller 100 a may beintegrated into the portable machine itself.

Recently, the game environment has been transformed from theconventional form reflecting the user manipulation on the game screenoutputted through the conventional TV or monitor into a virtual realityor an augmented reality using a head mounted display (HMD) such asOculus's Rift™ or Microsoft's Hololens™ In such new game environments,the gaming controller 100 a is expanding its role from a input devise toalso function as an output device for providing various feedbacks to theuser, so as to increase an immersion feeling of a game. For example,Sony's Dual Shock™ for Playstation™ is equipped with a vibrationfunction that outputs a tactile feedback to the user.

In the present specification, the feedback device 100 implemented in theform of the gaming controller 100 a may add a thermal sensation as aninteractive element to the game by providing the thermal feedback to theuser and induce an enhanced game immersion.

FIGS. 1 to 7 illustrate a gaming controller 100 a as implementationexamples of the feedback device 100 according to several embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

The gaming controller 100 a may be provided as a controller 100 a-1similar to that shown in FIG. 1 which is held with both hands such as aninput for interfacing with Sony's PlayStation™ or Microsoft's Xbox™. Thegaming controller 100 a may be provided as a bar type 100 a-2 similar tothat shown in FIG. 2 which is held on one hand such as an input forinterfacing with a Nintendo's Wii™.

In particular, the gaming controller 100 a of the bar type is suitablefor receiving user manipulation in the virtual or augmented realityenvironment, and the gaming controller 100 a may be provided as a pairof bar type controllers 100 a-3 similar to that shown in FIG. 3 , suchas the Move Motion™ controller used with Sony's Playstation VR™ gameconsole or the input for the HTC's Vive™ game console wherein one of thebar type controllers is held in each hand.

In addition, the gaming controller 100 a may include a wheel-typecontroller 100 a-4 similar to that shown in FIG. 4 (used in a racinggame), a joystick-type controller 100 a-5 similar to that shown in FIG.5 (used in a flight simulator game), a gun-type controller 100 a-6similar to that shown in FIG. 6 (used in a first-person shooter game) ora mouse type controller 100 a-7 similar to that in FIG. 7 (commonly usedin computer gaming environments).

The above-described gaming controller 100 a may be designed to providethe thermal feedback to the user through a portion in contact with theuser's body (e.g., the user's palm surface). Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 ,the portion for providing the thermal feedback to the user's body, thatis, a contact surface 1600 is shown for each type of the gamingcontroller 100 a. The position of the contact surface 1600 is notlimited to the drawings. The contact surface 1600 may be provided in thegaming controller 100 a at a portion different from the drawing.

1.2.2. Wearable Device

Another implementation example of the feedback device 100 is as awearable device 100 b.

The wearable device 100 b may be a device that is worn on the user'sbody and performs various functions. As the interest in human machineinterface (HMI) increases with the recent trend of pursuing moreconvenient technology, various wearable devices 100 b have beendeveloped. A new user experience can be made possible by utilizing thethermal feedback function in the wearable device 100 b.

FIGS. 8 to 14 illustrate wearable devices as implementation examples ofthe feedback device 100 according to certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

The wearable device 100 b is being developed in various forms which aremounted or worn on the user's body. The wearable device 100 b may beprovided as a glasses-type device 100 b-1 (to be worn like glasses) asshown in FIG. 8 , an HMD-type device 100 b-2 (to be worn on the head)similar to that shown in FIG. 9 , a watch-type device 100 b-3 or aband-type device 100 b-4 (to be worn on the wrist) similar to thoseshown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , a suit-type device 100 b-5 (to be worn likeclothes) similar to that shown in FIG. 12 , a glove-type device 100 b-6similar to that shown in FIG. 13 , and a shoe-type device 100 b-7 (to beworn like a shoe) similar to that shown in FIG. 14 .

As with the gaming controller 100 a described above, the wearable device100 b can also be designed to provide the thermal feedback to the userthrough a portion in contact with the user's body. Referring to FIGS. 8to 14 , the portion for providing the thermal feedback to the user'sbody, that is, the contact surface 1600, is shown for each type of thewearable device 100 b. The position of the contact surface 1600 is notlimited by the drawings, and the contact surface 1600 may be provided atthe wearable device 100 b in a portion different from the drawing.

Although the gaming controller 100 a and the wearable device 100 b havebeen described above as the implementation examples of the feedbackdevice 100, the implementation examples of the feedback device 100 arenot limited thereto.

The feedback device 100 may be substantially implemented with any devicein which the thermal feedback function can be usefully utilized. As oneexample, the feedback device 100 may be applied to a medical device fortesting a patient's thermal sensation, or may be provided with asteering wheel of an automobile for providing a moderate heat sensationin the hands of the driver or providing a warning signal to the driver.As another example, the feedback device 100 may be used in aneducational facility to provide a thermal sensation to the student toenhance the educational effect or a chair of a movie theater to providea thermal sensation to the user in addition to the audiovisual sense toenhance the immersion in movies.

1.3. Configuration of Feedback Device

Hereinafter, the configuration of the feedback device 100 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the configuration of the feedback device100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the feedback device 100 may include anapplication unit 2000 and a feedback unit 1000. The application unit2000 is a unit for performing certain functions according to theimplementation of the feedback device 100, and the feedback unit 1000 isa unit for outputting the thermal feedback.

The application unit 2000 may be suitably designed according to theimplementation of the feedback device 100. For example, in the case ofthe feedback device 100 in form of the gaming controller 100 a thatcooperates with a game console, the application unit 2000 may include acasing of the gaming controller 100 a, a communication module forcommunication with the game console, an input module for receiving auser input, and an application controller for controlling the overalloperation of the gaming controller 100 a. As another example, in thecase of the feedback device 100 in form of the wearable device 100 b ofa suit type, the application unit 2000 may include a suit memberconstituting the suit itself, a sensing module for sensing a user's bodysignal, and the like.

Alternatively, though the feedback unit 1000 may be somewhat varied inits configuration depending on the implementation, the feedback device100 may be configured for generating and/or absorbing heat, to controlheat generation and/or heat absorption, and to transfer the heat to theuser.

Hereinafter, the feedback unit 1000 will be described first, and thenthe configuration of the application unit 2000 and the manner ofinteroperation of the application unit 1000 and the feedback unit 2000in some embodiments of the feedback device 100 will be described.

1.3.1. Feedback Unit

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the configuration of the feedback unit1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the feedback unit 1000 may include a heatoutputting module 1200, a feedback controller 1400, and a contactsurface 1600. The heat outputting module 1200 selectively orsimultaneously performs a heat generating operation and a heat absorbingoperation under the control of the feedback controller 1400 andtransfers a hot heat or a cold heat to the user via the contact surface1600 so that the feedback device 100 may provide the thermal feedback tothe user.

Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the feedback unit 1000 willbe described in more detail.

1.3.1.1. Heat Outputting Module

The heat outputting module 1200 may perform a heat generating operationand/or a heat absorbing operation. The heat outputting module 1200 mayuse a thermoelectric element such as a Peltier element to perform thoseoperations.

The Peltier effect is a thermoelectric phenomenon discovered by JeanPeltier in 1834. According to the Peltier effect, when an electriccurrent is made to flow through a junction between two conductors a heatgeneration occurs at the one side of the junction and a heat absorptionoccurs at the other side of the junction. Peltier elements are elementsthat produce such a Peltier effect. Peltier elements were initially madeof a junction of different metals such as Bismuth and Antimony, but inrecent years they have been manufactured by arranging N-P semiconductorsbetween substrates for a higher thermal efficiency.

A Peltier element is capable of generating and absorbing heat on bothsides of the element in substantially instantaneous response withapplication of an electric power, switching between the heat generationand the heat absorption by changing the current direction of the appliedpower, and adjusting an intensity of the heat generation or absorptionprecisely by controlling the magnitude of the voltage or the currentvalue of the applied power. A Peltier element is suitable to be used forthe heat generating operation or heat absorbing operation for thethermal feedback. In particular, with Assignee's development of theflexible thermoelectric element, it is now possible to manufacture thethermoelectric element in a form that can be easily placed in contactwith the user's body, and the possibility of commercial use as thefeedback device 100 is increasing.

The heat outputting module 1200 may perform the heat generatingoperation or the heat absorbing operation as electricity is applied tothe thermoelectric element. Although the heat generation and theabsorption occur at the same time in the thermoelectric elements thatare physically supplied with electric power, in the presentspecification the heat generating operation and the heat absorbingoperation of the heat outputting module 1200 is defined with referenceto the contact surface 1600. More specifically, the heat generatingoperation is an operation that causes heat generation at the contactsurface 1600 in contact with the user's body and the heat absorbingoperation is an operation that causes heat absorption at the contactsurface 1600. For example, the thermoelectric element may bemanufactured by disposing an N-P semiconductor on a substrate such that,when an electric power is applied to the thermoelectric element, heat isgenerated at one side of the thermoelectric element and heat is absorbedat the other side of the thermoelectric element. We may arbitrarilydefine one side of the thermoelectric element facing the body of theuser as the front side, and the opposite side as the rear side. Then anoperation that causes the heat generation at the front side and the heatabsorption at the rear side is defined as the heat generating operation,and an operation that causes the heat absorption at the front side isdefined as the heat absorbing operation.

Since the thermoelectric effect is induced by the electric chargeflowing in the thermoelectric element, it is possible to describe theelectric energy inducing the heat generating operation or the heatabsorbing operation of the heat outputting module 1200 in terms of theelectric current. However, in the present description we will describethe electric energy applied to the thermoelectric element mainly interms of the electric voltage. This is merely for the sake of theconvenience of explanation and a person skilled in the arts wouldunderstand the operation of the disclosed embodiments in terms of theelectric current, based on the voltage-based description. The presentdisclosure is therefore not limited to expression in terms of thevoltage.

As described above, the heat outputting module 1200 may be implementedin various forms which include the thermoelectric element. Therefore, amore detailed description of the configuration of the heat outputtingmodule 1200 will be described later. For example, heat outputting module1200 may be two unique semiconductors, one n-type and one p-type, thatmay have different electron densities. Semiconductors in heat outputtingmodule 1200 may be placed thermally in parallel to each other andelectrically in series and then joined with a thermally conducting plateon each side. When a voltage is applied to the free ends of the twosemiconductors in heat outputting module 1200 there may be a flow of DCcurrent across the junction of the semiconductors causing a temperaturedifference. The side with the cooling plate absorbs heat which is thenmoved to the other side of the device where the heat sink is located.Thermoelectric couples are typically connected side by side andsandwiched between two ceramic plates. The cooling ability of the totalunit is then proportional to the number of thermoelectric couples in it.Alternatively, or additionally, heat outputting module 1200 may includecomposed semiconductors, such as GaAr, and operate under nonlinearPeltier effect.

1.3.1.2. Feedback Controller

The feedback controller 1400 may control the overall operation of thefeedback unit 1000. For example, the feedback controller 1400 maycontrol the heat outputting module 1200 to perform the heat generatingoperation or the heat absorbing operation by applying electric energy tothe thermoelectric element of the heat outputting module 1200. Thefeedback controller 1400 may also perform signal processing between theapplication unit 2000 and the feedback unit 1000.

To this end, the feedback controller 1400 performs calculations andprocessing of various information and controls an operation of the heatoutputting module 1200 by outputting an electric signal to the heatoutputting module according to the result of calculations andprocessing. Thus, the feedback controller 1400 may be implemented in acomputer or similar hardware, software or combination thereof. Thefeedback controller 1400 may be provided in the form of an electroniccircuit that performs a control function by processing an electricalsignal. The feedback controller 1400 may alternatively be provided inthe form of a program or a code for driving a microprocessor or otherhardware circuit. In the following description, it can be interpretedthat the operation of the feedback unit 1000 is performed by the controlof the feedback controller 1400 unless otherwise specified.

1.3.1.3. Contact Surface

The contact surface 1600 directly contacts the user's body and transfershot heat or cold heat generated by the heat outputting module 1200 tothe skin of the user. Thus, the portion of the outer surface of thefeedback device 100 that directly contacts the user's body may be thecontact surface 1600. For example, regarding the gaming controller 100 ashown in FIG. 1 , a portion held by the user with both hands may be thecontact surface 1600. As another example, a portion of or the entireinside surface of the suit wearable device shown in FIG. 12 , may be thecontact surface 1600.

In one example, the contact surface 1600 may be provided as a layer thatis directly or indirectly attached to the outer surface of the heatoutputting module 1200 which faces the user's body. The contact surface1600 may be disposed between the heat outputting module 1200 and theuser's skin and transfer heat between the heat outputting module 1200and the user. For this purpose, the contact surface 1600 may be providedwith a material of high thermal conductivity so that the heat transferfrom the heat outputting module 1200 to the user's body is performedefficiently. The layer-type contact surface 1600 also prevents directexposure of the heat outputting module 1200 to the outside, therebyprotecting the heat outputting module 1200 from external impact.

Here, the contact surface 1600 of the layer type may have a larger areathan the outer surface of the heat outputting module 1200 to secure awider surface for the heat transfer in view of the area. For example,the contact surface 1600 may be the inner surface of the suit, eventhough the heat outputting module 1200 is located at some specific pointin the suit-type feedback device 100.

Although the contact surface 1600 is disposed on the heat outputtingmodule 1200 in the above description, the outer surface of the heatoutputting module 1200 may itself be the contact surface 1600.Specifically, a part or all the front surface of the heat outputtingmodule 1200 may be the contact surface 1600. In the above description,the contact surface 1600 of the feedback unit 1000 is not included inthe heat outputting module 1200, but the contact surface 1600 mayalternatively be configured as a component or element included in theheat outputting module 1200.

1.3.1.4. Configuration and Type of Heat Outputting Module

In the above description, it is noted that the heat outputting module1200 may perform the heat generating operation or the heat absorbingoperation using the thermoelectric element. Hereinafter, theconfiguration and the form of the heat outputting module 1200 will bedescribed in more detail.

First, the configuration of the heat outputting module 1200 will bedescribed.

The heat outputting module 1200 may include a substrate 1220, athermoelectric element provided as a thermoelectric couple array 1240which is disposed between the substrate 1220 and a power terminal 1260for supplying an electric power to the thermoelectric element.

The substrate 1220 serves to support a thermoelectric couple unit 1241and may be provided as an insulating material. For example, ceramics maybe selected as the material of the substrate 1220. The substrate 1220may be of a flat plate shape. Alternatively, the substrate may haveanother shape, e.g., to fit the form of the body part intended toreceive the thermal feedback.

The substrate 1220 may be provided with a flexible material so it may beuniversally used for various types of feedback devices 100 of which thecontact surfaces 1600 may be of various shapes. For example, thefeedback device 100 of the gaming controller 100 a type may have a gripsection having a curved surface where the user grasps with the palm ofthe hands for holding the gaming controller 100 a, and it may beimportant that the heat outputting module 1200 is flexible for using theheat outputting module 1200 with a curved user surface. Examples of theflexible material used for the substrate 1220 include glass fiber andflexible plastic.

The thermoelectric couple array 1240 is composed of a plurality ofthermoelectric couple units 1241 disposed on the substrate 1220.Semiconductor pairs of N-type and P-type may be used as thethermoelectric couple unit 1241. Alternatively, the thermoelectriccouple unit 1241 may be implemented using different pairs of metals (forexample, Bismuth and Antimony).

Semiconductor pairs of the thermoelectric couple unit 1241 areelectrically connected to each other at one end and electricallyconnected to semiconductor pairs of the adjacent thermoelectric coupleunit 1241 at the other end. The electrical connection of thesemiconductor pairs is made by a conductor member 1242 disposed on thesubstrate 1220. The conductor member 1242 may be a lead or an electrodesuch as copper or silver.

The electrical connection of the thermoelectric couple unit 1241 may bea serial connection. The thermoelectric couple units 1241 connected inseries may form a thermoelectric couple group 1244, and at least onethermoelectric couple group 1244 may form a thermoelectric couple array1240.

The power terminal 1260 may supply electric energy to the heatoutputting module 1200. The thermoelectric couple array 1240 maygenerate heat or absorb heat according to the applied power and acurrent direction of the electric power applied to the power terminal1260. Specifically, each thermoelectric couple group 1244 may beconnected to two power terminals 1260. When the heat outputting module1200 comprises a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244, twopower terminals 1260 may be arranged for each thermoelectric couplegroup 1244. When connected in this manner, the power value or thecurrent direction may be individually controlled for each thermoelectriccouple group 1244, so as to control whether to perform the heatgenerating operation or the heat absorbing operation, and the intensityof the heat generation and the heat absorption.

As will be described later, the power terminal 1260 receives theelectrical signal output by the feedback controller 1400, such that thefeedback controller 1400 may control the heat outputting module 1200 toperform the heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operationby adjusting the current direction or power magnitude of the electricalsignal. When the heat outputting module 1200 includes a plurality of thethermoelectric couple groups 1244, the feedback controller 1400 may beconfigured to control each thermoelectric couple groups 1244individually by controlling the electric signals applied to the powerterminals 1260 separately.

Some exemplary arrangement of the heat outputting module 1200 will bedescribed based on the above description of the configuration of theheat outputting module 1200.

FIG. 17 illustrates an arrangement of a heat outputting module 1200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17 , one form of the heat outputting module 1200 mayinclude a pair of substrates 1220 facing each other. The contact surface1600 is located on the outside of one substrate 1220 so that the heatgenerated by the heat outputting module 1200 can be transferred to theuser's body. If the substrate 1220 is flexible, the heat outputtingmodule 1200 may also be flexible.

A plurality of the thermoelectric couple units 1241 are placed betweenthe substrates 1220. Each thermoelectric couple unit 1241 may becomposed of a semiconductor pair of an N-type semiconductor 1241 a and aP-type semiconductor 1241 b. In each thermoelectric couple unit 1241,the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor are electricallyconnected to each other by a conductor member 1242 at one end. TheN-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor of the thermoelectriccouple are electrically connected to the P-type semiconductor and theN-type semiconductor of the adjacent thermoelectric couple respectivelyby the conductor member 1242 at the other ends. The electricalconnection between the thermoelectric couple unit 1241 is thus achieved,and the thermoelectric couple units 1241 that are connected in seriesmay form the thermoelectric couple group 1244. In this embodiment, sinceall the thermoelectric couple units 1241 between the power terminals1260 are connected in series and the entire thermoelectric couple array1240 includes one thermoelectric couple group 1244, the heat outputtingmodule 1200 performs the same operation over the entire area of itsfront surface. That is, when the power is applied to the power terminal1260 in one direction, the heat outputting module 1200 performs the heatgenerating operation, and when the power is applied in the oppositedirection, the heat outputting module 1200 performs the heat absorbingoperation.

FIG. 18 illustrates another arrangement of the heat outputting module1200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 18 , another form of the heat outputting module 1200is similar to the one described above. However, the thermoelectriccouple array 1240 of this embodiment has a plurality of thermoelectriccouple groups 1244. Each of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 isconnected to the power terminals 1260 respectively and may be controlledseparately.

For one example, in FIG. 18 , an electric power of different currentdirections may be applied to a first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1and a second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 so that the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may perform the heat generatingoperation and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 may performthe heat absorbing operation.

Hereinafter, the current direction for the heat generating operation isreferred to as “forward direction” and the current direction for theheat absorbing operation is referred to as “reverse direction.”

As another example, an electric power of different voltage magnitudesmay be applied to the power terminal 1260 of the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the power terminal 1260 of the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 so that the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2may perform the heat generating or absorbing operation of differentintensity from each other.

FIG. 19 illustrates yet another arrangement of the heat outputtingmodule 1200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 18 , in the thermoelectric couple array 1240 thethermoelectric couple groups 1244 are arranged one-dimensionally.However, the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 may be arrangedtwo-dimensionally. Referring to FIG. 19 , the operation for more finelydivided region may be controlled using the thermoelectric couple groups1244 arranged in a two-dimensional array,

In the above-described embodiments, the heat outputting module 1200 ismade by a pair of opposing substrates 1220. The heat outputting module1200 may alternatively be made by a single substrate 1220.

FIG. 20 illustrates still another arrangement of the heat outputtingmodule 1200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the thermoelectric couple unit 1241 and theconductor member 1242 may be disposed on the single substrate 1220 in amanner that the thermoelectric couple unit 1241 and the conductor member1242 are attached to the single substrate 1220. Here, the singlesubstrate 1220 may be made of a glass fiber or the like. By using thesingle substrate 1220 of this type, the heat outputting module 1200 maybe made more flexible. Alternatively, the thermoelectric couple unit1241 and the conductor member 1242 may be buried in a pore, gap or thelike in the substrate by using a porous substrate as the singlesubstrate 1220. In some embodiments, a urethane layer may be used as thesingle substrate 1220. In other embodiments, alternative forming agentsor organic polymers may be used as the single substrate 1220. Forexample, the single substrate 1220 may include polyurethanes such aspolyester and polyether.

Various aspects of the heat outputting module 1200 described above canbe combined or modified within a range that is obvious to a personskilled in the art. For example, in some embodiments of the heatoutputting module 1200 the contact surface 1600 which is formed on thefront surface of the heat outputting module 1200 may be formed as aseparate layer from the heat outputting module 1200. However, the frontsurface of the heat outputting module 1200 itself may be the contactsurface 1600. That is, in an embodiment of the heat outputting module1200 described above, the outer surface of one substrate 1220 may be thecontact surface 1600.

1.3.2. Application Unit

The application unit 2000 of the feedback device 100 will be describedbelow. As described above, the application unit 2000 may be designed invarious forms suitable for performing its own functions according to theimplementation of the feedback device 100. The feedback device 100 ofthe present disclosure can be provided in any form for utilizing thethermal feedback effectively, and thus it is practically impossible todescribe the application unit 2000 for all implementations of thefeedback device 100. Therefore, the application unit 2000 will bedescribed with reference to the application unit 2000 of the gamingcontroller 100 a type.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the configuration of an application unit2000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 22is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the application unit 2000according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 21 and 22 , the application unit 2000 includes a casing 2100, aninput module 2200, a sensing module 2300, a vibration module 2400, acommunication module 2500, a memory 2600, and an application controller2700.

The casing 2100 forms an exterior of the feedback device 100 of thegaming controller type and may accommodate the elements such as thecommunication module 2500 or the application controller 2700 therein.The elements thus accommodated can be protected from external shock orthe like by the casing 2100.

The overall shape of the casing 2100 may be, e.g., a pad type for bothhands or a bar type for one hand, but is not limited thereto. Forreference, the two-hand pad type is typically used for traditional gamesbased on 2D displays, and the bar type is used for games of the virtualreality, augmented reality, and mixed reality (MR).

The casing 2100 may be provided with a grip portion 2120 for user togrip the feedback device 100. The grip portion 2120 may be made of amaterial having a high frictional coefficient (for example, rubber orUrethane) or may have a non-slippery shape (for example, aconcavo-convex shape or the like). Also, the grip portion 2120 may bemade of a material that absorbs perspiration from the user's skin.

Here, the contact surface 1600 of the feedback unit 1000 may be formedin the grip portion 2120, or the grip portion 2120 itself may be thecontact surface 1600. There may be two grip portions 2120 in the gamingcontroller 100 a of the two-hand pad type. There may be one grip portion2120 in the gaming controller 100 a of the single hand bar type. In thiscase, the gaming controllers 100 a of the bar type may be used in pairsand each of the gaming controllers 100 a of the bar type may have thegrip portion 2120, respectively.

The input module 2200 may obtain user input from a user. In the gamingcontroller 100 a, the user input is typically a user command for games,such as character manipulation or menu selection in the game. Forexample, the input module 2200 may be include a button or joystick, andthe user may input the user input by pressing the button or manipulatingthe joystick in a specific direction. The input module 2200 is notlimited to the above-described examples.

The sensing module 2300 may sense various information related to thegaming controller 100 a. Examples of a sensing module 2300 include anorientation sensor for sensing the orientation of the gaming controller100 a and a motion sensor for sensing the motion of the gamingcontroller 100 a. In addition, the sensing module 2300 may be abiosensor for sensing a bio-signal of the user. A gyro sensor or anacceleration sensor may be used as the orientation sensor or the motionsensor. The biosensor may include a temperature sensor for sensing theuser's body temperature or an electrocardiogram sensor for sensing anelectrocardiogram of the user.

The vibration module 2400 may output a vibration feedback. The vibrationfeedback may further enhance user engagement with the game along withthe thermal feedback. For example, the vibration feedback may occur whena character in the game is caught in an explosion scene or when a playergets shocked by falling from a high altitude. On the other hand, as willbe described later, the vibration feedback and the thermal feedback maybe interlocked with each other.

The communication module 2500 may perform communication with externaldevices. In some embodiments, the gaming controller 100 a may beprovided as a standalone type device. However, the gaming controller 100a may be provided as a device operating in conjunction with anelectronic device that executes a game program such as a game console ora PC. The electronic device executing a game may include a game console,a portable game console, a PC, a smart phone, a tablet, or the like.Hereinafter, these will be collectively referred to as “game consoles.”Accordingly, the gaming controller 100 a may transmit/receive variousinformation to/from a game console through the communication module2500.

The communication module 2500 may be a wired type or a wireless type.

Since the wired type and the wireless type have their own advantages anddisadvantages, the wired type and the wireless type may be providedsimultaneously in one gaming controller 100 a.

An example of the communication module 2500 of the wired type is a USB(Universal Serial Bus) communication, but other communication protocolsmay also be used. In the case of the wireless type. A wireless personalarea network (WPAN) communication such as Bluetooth or Zigbee may beused. However, the wireless communication protocol is not limited to theexample describe-above and the communication module 2500 of the wirelesstype may use a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication such asWi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or other known communication protocols. Anycommunication protocol developed by the game manufacturer may also beused as the wired or wireless communication protocol.

The memory 2600 may store various kinds of information. The memory 2600may store data temporarily or semi-permanently. Examples of the memory2600 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), a flashmemory, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). Thememory 2600 may be provided in a form embedded in the feedback device100 or in a detachable form in the feedback device 100.

The memory 2600 may store an operating system (OS) for driving thefeedback device 100 or various data for the operation of the feedbackdevice 100.

The application controller 2700 may perform control of the applicationunit 2000 and overall control of the feedback device 100. For example,the application controller 2700 may transmit the user input inputted viathe input module 2200 or the orientation information of the gamingcontroller 100 a sensed by the sensing module 2300 to the game consoleusing the communication module 2500. As another example, the applicationcontroller 2700 may receive a vibration signal from the game console viathe communication module 2500 and cause the vibration module 2400 tooutput the vibration feedback. The application controller 2700 receivesthe thermal feedback request signal from the game console through thecommunication module 2500 and transmits the thermal feedback requestsignal to the feedback controller 1400 so that the feedback controller1400 controls the heat outputting module 1200 to output the thermalfeedback.

In some embodiments, the feedback request message may be sent in apacket structured according to wired or wireless communications protocol(e.g., USB, Wi-Fi, etc.) employed by the system. In other embodiments,the feedback request message may be communicated with analog or digitalmodulated signals. For example, the feedback request may include voltagesignals with one or more amplitudes or frequencies that encode thefeedback request message. In yet other embodiments, the feedback requestmay take the form of an internet protocol message (e.g., TCP/IP), aquery packet, or a port opening instruction. In such embodiments, thefeedback request message may include a checksum or other field used tovalidate information transmitted in the feedback request message. Thefeedback request message may include information of applicationcontroller 2700, feedback controller 1400 and/or outputting module 1200such as a name, feedback intensity, and/or identification number.Additionally, the feedback request message may specify cells inthermocouple array 1240 or power deliveries for thermocouple array 1240.

The control operation described above may be performed as theapplication controller 2700 performs calculation and processing ofvarious information. To this end, the application controller 2700 may beimplemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. Thus, theapplication controller 2700 may be implemented as a computer or similardevice. The application controller 2700 may be provided in the form ofan electronic circuit that processes an electrical signal to perform acontrol function. The application controller 2700 may alternatively beprovided in the form of a program or a code for driving a microprocessoror other hardware circuit.

The application controller 2700 of the application unit 2000 and thefeedback controller 1400 of the feedback unit 1000 may be physicallyseparated or may be provided in a single physical configuration. Inother words, the application controller 2700 and the feedback controller1400 may be manufactured on separate chips and may cooperate throughcommunication interfaces between the two, but may alternatively beincluded in a single chip which performs functions of both of theapplication controller 2700 and the feedback controller 1400.Hereinafter, to facilitate explanations, the application controller 2700and the feedback controller 1400 will be described as being functionallyseparated, with the understanding that the present disclosure is notlimited thereto.

As described above, the feedback device 100 may be implemented invarious forms other than the gaming controller 100 a explained above.Thus, some or all the contents described related with the gamingcontroller 100 a may be applied to the other types of the feedbackdevice 100 different from the gaming controller 100 a. In addition, thegaming controller 100 a is not necessarily used only for a game, and maybe used for a variety of purposes including an experience applicationusing a virtual reality technique or an augmented reality technique, aneducational application, a medical application, and the like.

2. Operation of Feedback Device

Hereinafter, the operation of the feedback device 100 will be described.

The feedback device 100 may provide the thermal feedback. The thermalfeedback may include a hot feedback, a cold feedback, and a thermalgrill feedback. The feedback device 100 may provide the thermal feedbackdescribed above by the feedback unit 1000 performing a heat generatingoperation or a heat absorbing operation selectively or simultaneously.

The feedback device 100 may also provide the thermal feedback of variouslevels of intensity. The intensity of the thermal feedback may beadjusted such that the feedback controller 1400 of the feedback unit1000 adjusts the magnitude of the electric power applied to the heatoutputting module 1200.

The feedback device 100 may also perform an operation to prevent thermaldamage to the user's skin that receives heat through the contact surface1600 when the thermal feedback is provided. The damage protectionfunction may be accomplished by adjusting or limiting the intensity orduration time of the thermal feedback. The intensity or duration time ofthe thermal feedback may be adjusted or limited by controlling theelectrical signal applied to the heat outputting module 1200.

The feedback device 100 may also perform an operation to remove athermal inversion illusion. The thermal inversion illusion is anillusionary sensation that is opposite to the pre-applied thermalfeedback and felt by a user when the pre-applied thermal feedback isterminated. The feedback device 100 may eliminate the thermal inversionillusion by performing a buffering operation at the end of the thermalfeedback.

The feedback device 100 may also perform a heat moving operation inwhich the thermal feedback is moved. The heat moving operation may meanproviding the user with a sense of a moving heat on contact surface 1600using a thermoelectric element provided as the thermoelectric couplearray 1240 comprised of a plurality of individually controllablethermoelectric couple groups 1244.

The various operations of the above-described feedback device 100 willnow be described in more detail.

2.1. Operation for Providing Thermal Feedback

Hereinafter, the operation of providing the thermal feedback by theabove-described feedback unit 1000 will be described. The thermalfeedback provided by the feedback unit 1000 includes a heat generatingoperation to provide a hot sensation to the user and a heat absorbingoperation to provide a cold sensation. The feedback unit 1000 may alsoperform a thermal grill operation for giving the thermal grill feedbackto the user. The thermal grill operation may be implemented as acombination of the heat generating operation and the heat absorbingoperation.

Hereinafter, the heat generating operation, the heat absorbing operationand the thermal grill operation and the heat moving operation will bedescribed in more detail.

2.1.1. Heat Generating Operation and Heat Absorbing Operation

The feedback unit 1000 may perform the heat generating operation byusing the heat outputting module 1200 to provide the hot feedback to theuser. Similarly, the heat outputting module 1200 may perform the heatabsorbing operation to provide the cold feedback to the user.

FIG. 23 illustrates a heat generating operation for providing a hotfeedback according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.24 is a graph relating to an intensity of the hot feedback according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 23 , the heat generating operation may be performed bythe feedback controller 1400 applying a forward-direction current to thethermoelectric couple array 1240 and inducing an exothermic reaction ofthe thermoelectric couple array 1240 in the direction toward the contactsurface 1600. Here, when the feedback controller 1400 applies a constantvoltage to the thermoelectric couple array 1240, the thermoelectriccouple array 1240 starts the heat generating operation and thetemperature is raised to the saturation temperature with time as shownin FIG. 24 . Hereinafter, the voltage causing the heat generatingoperation is referred to as a “forward voltage,” regardless of theactual direction of the current. Therefore, the user feels no hotsensation or a weak hot sensation at the beginning of the heatgenerating operation, a hot sensation increased until the temperaturereaches the saturation temperature, and receives the hot feedbackcorresponding to the saturation temperature after a predetermined timehas passed.

FIG. 25 illustrates a heat absorbing operation for providing a coldfeedback according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.26 is a graph relating to an intensity of the cold feedback according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 25 , the heat absorbing operation may be performed bythe feedback controller 1400 applying a reverse-direction current to thethermoelectric couple array 1240 and inducing an endothermic reaction ofthe thermoelectric couple array 1240 in the direction toward the contactsurface 1600. Here, when the feedback controller 1400 applies a constantvoltage to the thermoelectric couple array 1240, the thermoelectriccouple array 1240 starts the heat absorbing operation and thetemperature drops to the saturation temperature with time as show inFIG. 25 . Hereinafter, the voltage causing the heat absorbing operationis referred to as “reverse voltage.” Therefore, the user feels no coldsensation or a weak cold sensation at the beginning of the heatabsorbing operation, feels a cold sensation increased until thetemperature reaches the saturation temperature, and receives the coldfeedback corresponding to the saturation temperature after apredetermined time has passed.

When a power is applied to a thermoelectric element, in addition to anexothermic reaction and an endothermic reaction occurring at both sidesof the thermoelectric element, electric energy is converted into thermalenergy and waste heat is generated. Therefore, the temperature riseamount due to the heat generating operation may be larger than thetemperature drop amount due to the heat absorbing operation. Here, thetemperature change amount including the temperature rise amount and thetemperature drop amount means the temperature difference between theinitial temperature and the saturation temperature.

Hereinafter, the heat generating operation and the heat absorbingoperation performed by the thermoelectric element using electric energywill be collectively referred to as “thermoelectric operation.” Inaddition, since the thermal grill operation to be described below isalso a combined operation of the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation, the thermal grill operation can also be interpretedas a kind of “thermoelectric operation.”

Furthermore, hereinafter, an electric power which is applied to thethermoelectric element and causes the thermoelectric operation will bereferred to as “operating power.” Thus, a voltage and current of theoperating power will be referred to as “operating voltage” and“operating current” respectively. A time duration of the application ofthe operating power will be referred to as “operating duration,” and aregion of the thermoelectric element which performs the thermoelectricoperation will be referred to as “operating region.”

2.1.1.1. Intensity Control of Heat Generating Operation and HeatAbsorbing Operation

As described above, when the heat outputting module 1200 performs theheat generating operation or the heat absorbing operation, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may controls an intensity of the heat generatingoperation or the heat absorbing operation of the heat outputting module1200 by adjusting a voltage magnitude (or current magnitude) of theoperating power. Accordingly, the feedback controller 1400 may select,among the hot feedback and cold feedback, the type of the thermalfeedback to provide by adjusting a current direction of the operatingpower, and may control the intensity of the hot feedback or coldfeedback by adjusting the magnitude of the operating voltage (oroperating current).

FIGS. 27 and 28 are graphs relating to the hot feedback and the coldfeedback of various intensities according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

For example, referring to FIG. 27 , the feedback unit 1000 may provideten kinds of the thermal feedback including five levels of hot feedbackand five levels of cold feedback by the feedback controller 1400adjusting a voltage magnitude of the operating power in five levels andthe current direction of the operating power to the forward direction orreverse direction.

The hot feedback and the cold feedback are respectively shown to havethe same number of intensity levels in FIG. 27 , but it is not necessarythat both feedbacks have the same number of intensity levels. That is,the number of the intensity levels of the hot feedback and the coldfeedback may be different from each other. For example, the intensity ofthe hot feedback may be adjusted in four levels and the intensity of thecold feedback may be adjusted in be adjusted in three levels.

FIG. 27 shows that the hot feedback and the cold feedback areimplemented by changing the current direction of the operating power ofwhich the voltage magnitude is same. However, the magnitude of theoperating voltage applied for the hot feedback and the cold feedback maynot be equal.

In particular, when the same voltage is applied for the heat generatingoperation and the heat absorbing operation, the temperature rise amountof the hot feedback due to the heat generating operation is generallylarger than the temperature drop amount due to the heat absorbingoperation. Therefore, the voltage magnitude for the cold feedback may begreater than the voltage magnitude for the hot feedback to adjust thetemperature change amount of both feedbacks to the equal level. FIG. 28shows the hot feedback and the cool feedback with the same temperaturechange amount.

In the above description, the intensity of the thermal feedback isadjusted by controlling the voltage magnitude of the operating power.Similarly, the intensity of the thermal feedback may be adjusted bycontrolling the current magnitude of the operating power. However, theadjustment of the intensity of the thermal feedback may also be achievedin other manners.

For example, when the thermoelectric couple array 1240 of the heatoutputting module 1200 has a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups1244 that can be individually controlled, the feedback controller 1400may adjust the intensity of the thermal feedback by controlling theoperation for each thermoelectric couple group 1244. That is, theoperating area control manner.

FIG. 29 illustrates the intensity adjustment of the thermal feedbackusing an operating area control according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 29 , when the thermoelectric couple array 1240 iscomposed of five thermoelectric couple groups 1244-1, 1244-2, 1244-3,1244-4 and 1244-5, the feedback controller 1400 may adjust the intensityof the thermal feedback by applying the operating power to all or aportion of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244. For example, thefeedback controller 1400 may apply the operating power to all of thethermoelectric couple groups 1244 so as to provide the user with thethermal feedback of the maximum intensity, apply the operating power tothe four thermoelectric couple groups 1244 to provide the user with thethermal feedback of a middle-high intensity, apply the operating powerto three thermoelectric couple groups 1244 to provide the user with thethermal feedback of a middle intensity, apply the operating power to twothermoelectric couple groups 1244 to provide the user with the thermalfeedback of a middle-low intensity, or apply the operating power to onethermoelectric couple group 1244 to provide the user with the thermalfeedback of the minimum intensity.

When the intensity of the thermal feedback is adjusted by adjusting thenumber of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 to which the operatingpower is applied, the feedback controller 1400 may select thethermoelectric couple groups 1244 to which the operating power is to beapplied in order to making the heat distribution as uniform as possiblewithin the allowable range. To this end, the feedback controller 1400may apply the operating power to thermoelectric couple groups 1244 in aform that the number of consecutive thermoelectric couple groups 1244 towhich the operating power is applied or thermoelectric couple groups1244 to which the operating power is not applied is minimized. Since thetable shown in FIG. 29 takes into consideration the uniformity of theheat distribution, it will be more clearly understood by referencethereto.

As another example, the feedback controller 1400 may adjust theintensity of the thermal feedback by controlling the timing of thepower-application. More specifically, the feedback controller 1400 mayapply power to the thermoelectric couple array 1240 as an electricsignal in the form of a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal having aduty cycle to control the intensity of the thermal feedback. That is,the operating time control manner.

FIG. 30 illustrates the intensity adjustment of the thermal feedbackusing an operating time control according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 30 , it is shown that the intensity of the thermalfeedback is adjusted by the duty rate of the electric signal.

As described above, by adjusting the intensity of the thermal feedback,the thermal feedback may be provided with various levels of intensity,such as strong hot sensation, weak hot sensation, weak cold sensation,strong cold sensation, etc., instead of simply providing the hotsensation and cold sensation to the user. Such multi-level thermalfeedback can provide a greater immersion for the user in a gameenvironment or a virtual/augmented reality environment, and also makesit possible to inspect a patient's senses more precisely when applied toa medical device.

In addition, the adjustment of the intensity of the thermal feedback mayalso be performed by mixing the above-described manners. In other words,the intensity adjustment of the thermal feedback may be achieved byusing the operating power control, the operating area control, theoperating time control or combinations thereof.

2.1.2. Thermal Grill Operation

The feedback unit 1000 may provide the thermal grill feedback inaddition to the hot feedback and cold feedback. When a user isstimulated with the hotness and the coldness at the same time, the userrecognizes not the hotness or the coldness but a pain. Thermal grillsensation refers a sense of pain perceived by a user whose body isstimulated with the hotness and coldness at the same time. Thus, thefeedback unit 1000 may provide the thermal grill feedback to the userthrough a thermal grill operation in which the heat generating operationand heat absorbing operation are combined.

The feedback unit 1000 may perform the thermal grill operation invarious ways to provide the thermal grill feedback, which will bedescribed later, after explaining the types of the thermal grillfeedback.

2.1.2.1. Types of Thermal Grill Feedback

The thermal grill feedback may include a neutral grill feedback, a hotgrill feedback, and a cold grill feedback.

The neutral grill feedback, the hot grill feedback, and the cold grillfeedback cause the user a neutral pain, a hot pain and a cold pain,respectively. The neutral pain means a pain sensation without feelingsof warmth and coldness, hot pain means a pain sensation with hotsensation, and a cold pain means a pain sensation with a cold sensation.

For example, the neutral pain may be caused when an intensity ratio ofhotness and coldness applied to the user are within a predeterminedrange. The ratio causing the neutral pain (hereinafter referred to as“neutral ratio”) may be different for each part of the body that isprovided with the thermal feedback, and even if it is the same bodypart, it may be slightly different for each individual. However, in mostcase the neutral pain tends to be felt where the intensity of the coldfeedback is given larger than the intensity of the hot feedback.

Here, the intensity of the thermal feedback may be related to the amountof heat that the feedback device 100 applies to or absorbs from the bodypart that is in contact with the contact surface 1600. Therefore, whenthe thermal feedback is applied to a certain area for a certain periodof time, the intensity of the thermal feedback may be related to thedifference between a skin temperature of the target site to which thethermal feedback is applied and the temperature of the contact surface1600.

Human body temperature is usually between 36.5 and 36.9° C., and theskin temperature varies from person to person, but it is known to beabout 30˜32° C. on average. The temperature of the palm is about 33° C.which is slightly higher than the average skin temperature. Theabove-mentioned temperature values may be somewhat different dependingon the individual, and even the same person may vary to some extent.

According to one experimental example, it was confirmed that a sensationof neutral pain was felt when a hot sensation of about 40° C. and a coldsensation of about 20° C. were given to the palm of 33° C. This is dueto the hotness of +7° C. and coldness of −13° C., based on the palmtemperature, so the neutral ratio in terms of temperature (hereinafterreferred to as “neutral temperature ratio”) may be equivalent to 1.86.

As can be seen from this, in case of most people, when the hotness andcoldness are continuously applied to the same body area, the neutraltemperature ratio is in the range of about 1.5 to 5, where the neutraltemperature ratio is the ratio of the temperature drop amount caused onthe skin by the cold feedback to the temperature rise amount caused onthe skin by the hot feedback. In addition, the hot grill sensation maybe felt when the ratio of the temperature drop amount to the temperaturerise ratio (hereinafter referred to as “temperature ratio”) is smallerthan the neutral temperature ratio, and the cold grill sensation may befelt when the temperature ratio is greater than the neutral temperatureratio.

2.1.2.2. Thermal Grill Operation by Using Operating Power Control

The feedback unit 1000 may perform the thermal grill operation by usingthe operating power control manner. The thermal grill operation usingthe operating power control may be applied to the feedback unit 1000 inwhich the thermoelectric couple array 1240 is composed of a plurality ofthermoelectric couple groups 1244 which are individually controllable.

Specifically, in the thermal grill operation using the operating powercontrol, the feedback controller 1400 may apply a forward power to apart of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 to perform the heatgenerating operation and apply a reverse power to another part of thethermoelectric couple groups 1244 to perform the heat absorbingoperation. Therefore, the heat outputting module 1200 may be outputtingboth hot feedback and cold feedback.

FIG. 31 illustrates a thermal grill operation using an operating powercontrol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 31 , the thermoelectric couple array 1240 includes aplurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244 arranged to form aplurality of lines. The feedback controller 1400 may control the firstthermoelectric couple groups 1244-1 (e.g., the thermoelectric couplegroups forming the odd-numbered lines) to perform the heat generatingoperation and the second thermoelectric couple groups 1244-2 (e.g., thethermoelectric couple groups forming the even-numbered lines) to performthe heat absorbing operation. In some embodiments, the thermoelectriccouple groups 1244 perform the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation alternately according to the line arrangement. Theuser may receive the hot heat and cold heat at the same time and thethermal grill feedback may be provided to the user. Here, thearrangement of the odd-numbered lines and the even-numbered lines isarbitrary, and the opposite arrangement may alternatively be chosen.

The feedback unit 1000 may provide the neutral grill feedback byadjusting the temperature ratio caused to the neutral temperature ratio.

FIG. 32 is a table of the operating voltages for providing the neutralgrill feedback by the operating power control manner according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, referring to FIG. 32 , assuming that: 1) the feedbackcontroller 1400 is able to apply, e.g., five voltage values for theforward operating power and five voltage values for the reverseoperating power to the heat outputting module 1200; 2) the heatoutputting module is able to perform five intensity levels of the heatgenerating operation and five intensity levels of the heat absorbingoperation; 3) the temperature rise amount due to the heat generatingoperation and the temperature drop amount due to the heat absorbingoperation are same when the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation which have the same intensity level are performed;and 4) the difference of the temperature change amount between eachintensity level is constant, in the case that the neutral ratio is setto 3, the feedback controller 1400 may provide the neutral grillfeedback by applying the first level forward voltage to the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the third level reverse voltageof the third level to the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2.

Similarly, in case that the neutral ratio is 2.5, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may provide neutral grill feedback by applying thesecond level forward voltage to the first thermoelectric couple group1244-1 and the fifth level reverse voltage to the second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2. In case that the neutral ratio is 4, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may output the neutral grill feedback by applying thefirst level forward voltage to the first thermoelectric couple group1244-1 and the fourth level reverse voltage to the second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2.

Or in case that the neutral ratio is 2, the feedback controller 1400 mayprovide the neutral grill feedback by applying the first level forwardvoltage to the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the secondlevel reverse voltage to the second thermoelectric couple 1244-2 or byapplying the second level forward voltage to the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the fourth level reverse voltage to the secondthermoelectric couple 1244-2.

The neutral grill feedback according to the combination of the secondlevel forward voltage and the fourth level reverse voltage may causegreater pain sensation than the neutral grill feedback according to thecombination of the first level forward voltage and the second levelreverse voltage. This means that the feedback device 1000 can adjust theintensity of the thermal grill feedback.

The above description related to the thermal grill operation forproviding the neutral grill feedback is illustrative, and the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the number of theintensity level of the thermal feedback doesn't need to be five, and thenumber of the intensity levels between the hot feedback and the coldfeedback may be varied. Also, the interval of the temperature changeamount of each level of the thermal feedback should not be constant, andthe interval of the voltage magnitude of each level of the operatingpower may be constant instead of the temperature interval.

The feedback controller 1400 may provide the hot grill feedback byadjusting the voltage value or the current value of the forwardoperating power and the reverse operating power and setting thetemperature ratio to be smaller than the neutral ratio, or may providethe cold grill feedback by adjusting the voltage value or the currentvalue of the forward operating power and the reverse operating power andsetting the temperature ratio to be greater than the neutral ratio.

For example, referring back to FIG. 32 , in case of the neutral ratio isset to 3, the feedback controller 1400 may output the hotness andcoldness at a ratio lower than the neutral ratio by applying the forwardvoltage of the first level to the first thermoelectric couple group1244-1 and the reverse voltage of the first or second level to thesecond thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 and, thereby, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may provide the hot grill feedback which makes the userfeel the pain sensation and hot sensation simultaneously. The forwardvoltage for the hot grill feedback does not necessarily have to be theforward voltage used for the neutral grill feedback. The feedbackcontroller 1400 may control the heat outputting module 1200 to providehot grill feedback using the fourth level forward voltage and the fourthlevel reverse voltage.

Similarly, in case of the neutral ratio is set to 3, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may generate the cold grill feedback using the firstlevel forward voltage and the fourth level reverse voltage or using thefirst level forward voltage and the fifth level reverse voltage.

Since the user cannot feel the pain sensation from the hot grillfeedback or the cold grill feedback when the forward voltage and thereverse voltage are applied at a ratio largely deviated from the neutralratio, it may be desirable to adjust the level of the forward voltageand reverse voltage so that the ratio of coldness to hotness is close tothe neutral ratio.

2.1.2.3. Thermal Grill Operation by Using Operating Area Control

In the above description, the feedback device 100 may provide thethermal grill feedback by adjusting the voltage value or current valueof the operating power applied to the thermoelectric couple group 1244where the region for performing the heat generating operation and theregion for performing the heat absorbing operation have same size andalternately arranged in the thermoelectric couple array 1240. Thefeedback device 100 may provide the thermal grill feedback by adjustingthe area size of the region for performing the heat generating operationand the region for performing the performing the heat absorbingoperation.

Specifically, the thermal grill operation using the operating areacontrol manner may be performed by adjusting the area of thethermoelectric couple group 1244 to which the forward operating power isapplied and the area of the thermoelectric couple group 1244 to whichthe reverse operating power is applied.

FIG. 33 illustrates the thermal grill operation using the operating areacontrol according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 33 , the electric couple array 1240 includes aplurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244 arranged to form aplurality of lines. Assuming that 1) the area size of each line is thesame, and 2) the forward voltage and reverse voltage are set to voltagevalues that make the temperature change amount of the hot feedback andthe cold feedback equal to each other: in the case that the neutralratio is 3, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltageand reverse voltage to the heat outputting module 1200 so that threethermoelectric couple groups 1244-2 per one thermoelectric couple group1244-1 performing the heat generating operation may perform the heatabsorbing operation. Thereby, the area of the contact surface 1600providing the cold feedback is three times the area of the contactsurface 1600 providing the hot feedback, and the feedback device 100 mayprovide the neutral grill feedback.

The neutral ratio may mean the ratio of the area providing the coldfeedback to the area providing the hot feedback instead of the ratio oftemperature difference of the cold feedback to temperature difference ofthe hot feedback. The neutral ratio in terms of area (hereinafterreferred to as “neutral area ratio”) may be equal to the neutraltemperature ratio, but may be a somewhat different value.

Additionally, the feedback controller 1400 may reduce or increase thenumber of thermoelectric couple groups 1244-2 performing the heatabsorbing group per thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 performing theheat generating operation so that the feedback device 100 is also ableto perform the hot grill feedback or the cold grill feedback.

Although each of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 has beendescribed as having the same area size in FIG. 33 , the thermoelectriccouple groups 1244 may alternatively be designed in consideration of theneutral area ratio.

FIG. 34 illustrates a thermoelectric couple array 1240 composed ofthermoelectric couple groups 1244 having different area sizes forproviding the thermal grill feedback using the operating area controlaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 34 , the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 andthe second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 are designed to havedifferent area sizes. For example, the area ratio of the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 to first thermoelectric couple group1244-2 may be the neutral area ratio. Using this thermoelectric couplearray 1240, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltageto the first thermoelectric couple groups 1244-1 and the reverse voltageto the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 so that the feedbackdevice may provide the neutral grill feedback.

The above description has been made on the assumption that the forwardvoltage and the reverse voltage, which are used for outputting thethermal grill feedback according to the operating area control manner,causes the same temperature change amount both in the hot feedback andcold feedback. However, if the temperature change amount of the hotfeedback according to the forward voltage and the temperature differenceof the cold feedback according to the reverse voltage are different fromeach other, the area ratio should be adjusted considering the ratio ofthe temperature change amount.

In other words, to provide the neutral pain sensation, the valuecalculated based on two parameters of the ratio of the cold area to thehot area which is the area ratio and the ratio of the cold temperaturedifference to the hot temperature difference which is the temperatureratio may be the neutral ratio. For example, the feedback device 100 mayprovide neutral grill feedback by adjusting the product of thetemperature ratio and the area ratio to be the neutral ratio. Theneutral ratio may be the product of the neutral temperature ratio andthe neutral area ratio.

The thermal grill operation using the operating area control manneraccording to the above-described has an advantage in that the feedbackintensity can be selected more freely than the thermal grill operationusing the operating power control manner.

When the same voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element toperform the heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation,the temperature change amount of the heat generating operation isgenerally larger than the temperature change amount of the heatabsorbing operation. In addition, for outputting the neutral grillfeedback, the temperature drop amount of the cold feedback isapproximately two to three times larger than the temperature rise amountof the hot feedback. Considering these points, the ratio of themagnitude of the reverse voltage to the forward voltage may berelatively large. Therefore, to provide the neutral grill feedback byusing the operating power control, the feedback controller 1400 needs tooutput an electric signal in a wide voltage range. This means, when thevoltage range of the applied power supply is limited, it is practicallydifficult to adjust the intensity of the thermal grill feedback.

On the other hand, since the neutral grill feedback according to theoperating area control manner is processed by adjusting the area size ofthe hot region and the cold region and the feedback device 1000 maysatisfy the neutral ratio by regulating the area ratio, the feedbackdevice 1000 may adjust the intensity of the thermal grill feedback moreeasily.

Specifically, in the discussion with reference to FIG. 34 , the feedbackcontroller 1400 may control the heat outputting module 1200 to provide astrong neutral grill feedback by increasing the magnitudes of both theforward and reverse voltages together or control the heat outputtingmodule 1200 to provide a weak neutral grill feedback by decreasing themagnitudes of both the forward and reverse voltages together.

As already mentioned in the description related to FIG. 34 , the neutralratio for neutral grill feedback has already been satisfied by the ratioof the cold area to the hot area, the feedback controller 1400 mayrelatively freely control the intensity of the thermal grill feedback byadjusting the magnitude of the forward voltage and the reverse voltage.

2.1.2.4. Thermal Grill Operation According to Operating Time Control

The thermal grill operation may be implemented according to theoperating time control manner as well. Specifically, the thermal grilloperation according to the operating time control manner may beimplemented by performing the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation alternately in time. If the hot feedback and thecold feedback are transmitted to the user alternately in a relativelyshort time interval, the human senses may interpret it as a painsensation.

The feedback controller 1400 may alternately apply a forward voltage anda reverse voltage to the heat outputting module 1200 so that the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation are alternatelyperformed. Here, the neutral grill feedback may be performed byadjusting at least one of the voltage magnitude of the operating poweror the application duration of the forward operating power and thereverse operating power.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a thermal grill operation using anoperating time control according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

If the forward voltage and the reverse voltage are set to make thetemperature change amount of the hot feedback equal to the temperatureamount of the cold feedback, the feedback controller 1400 may adjust theratio of the application duration of the reverse operating power to theapplication duration of the forward operating power to the neutral ratioby controlling the output timing of the electric signal.

For example, referring to FIG. 35 , if the neutral ratio is 3, thefeedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltage for 20 ms andapply the reverse voltage for 60 ms to provide the neutral grillfeedback. Here, the hot grill feedback or the cold grill feedback may beprovided by adjusting the ratio of the signal output timing. Here, whenthe ratio of the time duration is set to the neutral ratio, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may adjust the intensity of the thermal grill operationby increasing or decreasing the magnitudes of the forward voltage andthe reverse voltage together.

FIG. 36 illustrates another example of the thermal grill operation usingthe operating time control according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

In some embodiments, the application duration of the hot feedback andthe cold feedback are set to the same size. In such embodiments, thefeedback controller 1400 may adjust the temperature change for the hotfeedback and the cold feedback to be the neutral ratio during eachapplication duration by adjusting the voltage value of the electricsignal. For example, referring to FIG. 36 , when the neutral ratio is 3,the feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltage and thereverse voltage alternately at intervals of 20 ms and adjust thetemperature drop amount by the heat absorbing operation to be threetimes the temperature rise amount by the heat generating operation toprovide the neutral grill feedback. Also, the hot grill feedback or thecold grill feedback may be achieved by adjusting the magnitude of theforward voltage or the reverse voltage.

In some embodiments, the feedback controller 1400 may also adjust thetime duration and the magnitude of the voltage together.

The thermal grill operation of the operating power control or theoperating area control causes the user to feel a pain sensation, butphysically it applies the hot heat and cold heat to the user's body atthe same time. If the sensory organ of the user is constantly stimulatedby the pain sensation of the thermal grill feedback, the user's bodysenses an after-sensation for a certain period of time even after thethermal grill feedback is removed. Since the thermal grill feedback istypically a feeling close to pain, the user may feel uncomfortable dueto the after-sensation. The cause of this after-sensation is due to theprolonged exposure of the skin's hot and cold spots to the given hotnessand coldness of a somewhat higher intensity to provide effective thermalgrill feedback. On the other hand, the thermal grill operation accordingto the operating time control manner does not continuously stimulate theskin's hot and cold spots, and thus the after-sensation effect issomewhat eliminated.

2.1.2.5. Thermal Grill Operation Combined with Operating Area Controland Operating Time Control

The thermal grill operation may be performed by combining the concept ofthe operating area control manner and the operating time control mannerdescribed above.

In some embodiments, thermoelectric couple array 1240 may includemultiple areas that are independently controlled by feedback controller1400. In such embodiments, the thermal grill operation may be achievedby having opposite and alternating feedbacks in different areas. Forinstance, the thermal grill may be achieved when feedback controller1400 cycles between a first interval and a second interval. During thefirst interval, feedback controller 1400 may perform a heat generatingoperation (i.e., output a hot feedback) in a first area while itsimultaneously performs a heat absorbing operation (i.e., output a coldfeedback) in a second area. In the second interval, feedback controller1400 may alternate operations and perform the heat absorbing operationin the first area while it performs the heat generating operation in thesecond area. In some embodiments, feedback controller 1400 may alternatebetween the first and the second interval with a uniform periodicity. Inother embodiments, the time intervals may have arbitrary time lengths ormay be dynamically controlled by, for example, application controller2700.

FIG. 37 illustrates an example of the thermal grill operation using acombination of the operating area control and the operating time controlaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 37 , the thermoelectric couple array 1240 may includea first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 performing a first operationand a second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 performing a secondoperation. Here, both the first operation and the second operationincludes the heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operationwhich are carried out alternately, and the heat generating operation ofthe first operation and the heat absorbing operation of the secondoperation are carried out together, and the heat absorbing operation andthe heat generating operation are carried out together.

The feedback controller 1400 may control the first thermoelectric couplegroup 1244-1 to perform the first operation by sequentially applying theforward voltage and the reverse voltage to the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1, and control the second thermoelectric couple group1244-2 to perform the second operation by sequentially applying thereverse voltage and the forward voltage to the second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2. Accordingly, the heat outputting module 1200 mayoutput the hot feedback and the cold feedback simultaneously in theregion of the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the region ofthe second thermoelectric couple 1244-2, so that the feedback device 100may provide the thermal grill feedback.

When the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 have the same area size and the timeduration of the heat generating operation and the time duration of theheat absorbing operation are the same in the first operation and thesecond operation, the feedback device 100 may provide the neutral grillfeedback, the hot grill feedback, or the cold grill feedback byadjusting the voltage ratio of the reverse voltage to the forwardvoltage or the temperature ratio.

Here, the time duration of the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation may be relatively long, unlike the case ofperforming the thermal grill operation according to the operating timecontrol manner. In the case of the operating time control manner, it mayinvoke an illusion to a human sensory organ depending on the timeinterval of the hot feedback and cold feedback. On the contrary, in thecase of the operating time control manner combined with the operatingarea control manner, the hot feedback and the cold feedback aresimultaneously provided to the user, so that the pain sensation can befelt even if the time interval of the heat generating operation and theheat absorbing operation is relatively long. That is, in the case of theoperating time control manner, each of the application duration of theforward voltage and the application duration of the reverse voltageneeds to be adjusted to be less than the recognition time when the userto feel hotness or coldness. On the contrary, the operating time controlmanner combined with the operating area control manner is free from thetime duration limit.

Furthermore, since the thermal grill operation according to the combinedoperating time control manner does not continuously provide the hot heatand cold heat to the user's skin and provide the hot heat and cold heatperiodically to the user's skin, the skin damage can be minimized. Forthis purpose, it may not be desirable for the time duration to be toolong.

Although the thermoelectric couple array 1240 has been described ashaving two thermoelectric couple groups 1244 that perform staggeredoperations with respect to FIG. 37 , the thermal grill operation may beapplied according to the combined manner to various types of thethermoelectric couple arrays 1240.

FIG. 38 illustrates another example of a thermal grill operation using acombination of an operating area control and an operating time controlaccording to an embodiment of the present.

Referring to FIG. 38 , the thermoelectric couple array 1240 may includefour thermoelectric couple groups 1244-1, 1244-2, 1244-3 and 1244-4.Here, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the following electricsignals to each thermoelectric couple group 1244: During the first-timeperiod, a forward voltage is applied to the first thermoelectric couplegroup 1244-1 to perform the heat generating operation, and the reversevoltage is applied to the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 toperform the heat absorption operation, and no operating power is appliedto the remaining groups 1244-3 and 1244-4. During the second-timeperiod, the forward voltage is applied to the third thermoelectriccouple group 1244-3 to perform the heat generating operation, and thereverse voltage is applied to the fourth thermoelectric couple group1244-4 to perform the heat absorbing operation, and no operating poweris applied to the remaining groups 1244-1 and 1244-2. During thethird-time period, the reverse voltage is applied to the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 to perform the heat absorbingoperation, and the forward voltage is applied to the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 to perform the heat operation, and nooperating power is applied to the remaining groups 1244-3 and 1244-4.During the fourth-time period, the reverse voltage is applied to thethird thermoelectric couple group 1244-3 to perform the heat absorbingoperation, and the forward voltage is applied to the fourththermoelectric couple group 1244-4 to perform the heat generatingoperation, and no operating power is applied to the remaining groups1244-1 and 1244-2. The above operations during first-time period to thefourth-time period may be repeated.

According to this operation, the feedback device 100 may alternatelyprovide a first thermal grill feedback due to the cooperation of thefirst thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2 and a second thermal grill feedback due to thecooperation of the third thermoelectric couple group 1244-3 and thefourth thermoelectric couple group 1244-4, thereby achieving the sameeffect as providing the user with continuous thermal grill feedback. Theabove operations from the first-time period to the second-time periodfor providing the thermal grill feedback may be repeated.

In the above description related to FIG. 38 , it is mentioned that theperiod of the first thermal grill operation performed by the first andsecond thermoelectric couple groups 1244-1 and 1244-2, and the period ofthe second thermal grill operation performed by the third and fourththermoelectric couple groups 1244-3 and 1244-4 are not overlapped intime. However, the two thermal grill operations may alternativelyoverlap in time.

FIG. 39 illustrates yet another example of the thermal grill operationusing the combination of the operating area control and the operatingtime control according to an embodiment of the present.

Referring to FIG. 39 , the time periods described with reference to FIG.38 may have an overlapped section. In the overlapped section, theoperation of the previous time duration and the operation of the nexttime duration may be performed together. The thermal grill operationwith the overlapped section may reduce or remove the delay time from atime point when the operating power is applied for the heat generatingoperation and heat absorbing operation to a time point when thetemperature of the contact surface 1600 reaches to the saturationtemperature so that there is no delay in transmitting the thermal grillfeedback to the user.

In addition, the thermal grill feedback operation can be implemented invarious ways by combining the operating time control and the operatingarea control, based upon the examples mentioned in this specification.

2.2. Damage Preventing Operation by Thermal Feedback

The thermal feedback described above stimulates the hot spot and coldspot of the skin, so that it may cause damage to skin or sensory organswhen a certain amount of heat is delivered to the user. For example, theskin tissue may be denatured by heat if the user is provided with thethermal feedback of an excessively high intensity, or the sensory organsmay be confused if the thermal feedback is continuously provided over along period of time. Hereinafter, an operation for preventing damage tothe user's skin or sensory organs will be described.

According to one embodiment, the voltage value applied by the feedbackcontroller 1400 may be limited so that the temperature change amountcaused by the heat outputting module 1200 on the contact surface 1600does not exceed a certain level. For example, the feedback controller1400 may limit the forward voltage to fall below a voltage value atwhich the saturation temperature of the hot feedback is 40° C.

According to another embodiment, the time duration that the thermalfeedback is provided may be limited. For example, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may shut off the operating power applied to the heatoutputting module 1200 if the thermal feedback is applied continuouslyfor more than a predetermined time.

The limit of the maximum intensity of the thermal feedback may bedetermined considering the time duration for providing the thermalfeedback or the limit of the maximum time duration of the thermalfeedback may be determined considering the intensity of the thermalfeedback. This is because the physical damage may not occur even if theuser is given a long period of weak thermal feedback, while the bodydamage may occur even in a short period of intense thermal feedback.

For example, in the case of the feedback device 100 capable of applyingmultiple levels of the thermal feedback, the feedback controller 1400may obtain the intensity of the thermal feedback, and cut off theoperating power applied to the heat outputting module 1200 when the timeduration of the thermal feedback exceeds the time limit which isdetermined based on the obtained intensity.

As another example, when the thermal feedback of various intensitylevels is provided to improve the user's perception of the thermalfeedback, the feedback device 100 may set a time limit for eachintensity level. There may be no time limit for low-intensity thermalfeedback in the feedback device 100. A time limit may be set to apredetermined time for mid-intensity and high-intensity thermalfeedback. The time limit for the mid intensity thermal feedback may belonger than the time limit for the high intensity thermal feedback. Ifthe thermal feedback needs to be provided beyond the set time limit, thefeedback device 100 may provide the thermal feedback until the timelimit is reached, and stop outputting the thermal feedback for a restduration and resume outputting the thermal feedback after the restduration passed.

2.3. Operation for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion

A user who is provided with the thermal feedback using the feedbackdevice 100 may experience a thermal inversion illusion when the thermalfeedback terminated. The thermal inversion illusion means an illusionarysensation of the sensory organs that occurs when the given thermalfeedback is terminated, and it is felt like the opposite thermalsensation of the terminated thermal sensation. Specifically, when thehot feedback is stopped being provided, the user may instantly feel acold feeling, and when the cold feedback is stopped being provided, theuser may instantly feel a warm feeling. That is, it is a kind of thethermal inversion illusion that the opposite feeling is felt during theprocess of eliminating the thermal sensation after receiving thespecific thermal sensation.

Thermal inversion illusion may hinder the user experience provided withthe thermal feedback. For example, if a user grasps a hot kettle withina virtual reality, the feedback device 100, as part of the virtualreality experience system, may provide the hot feedback to the user toimprove the user experience for the virtual reality. However, if theuser instantly senses the coldness at the end of the thermal feedback,the immersion into the virtual reality may be inhibited.

Hereinafter, the thermal inversion illusion will be described in moredetail, and specific methods for preventing thermal inversion illusionwill be described.

2.3.1. Causes of Thermal Inversion Illusion

The process for providing the thermal feedback to the user is briefly asfollows: First, the feedback controller 1400 applies the operating powerto the heat outputting module 1200. The power applied to the heatoutputting module 1200 is transmitted to the thermoelectric elementthrough the power terminal 1260. In the thermoelectric element, anexothermic reaction or an endothermic operation occurs due to thePeltier effect. It can be interpreted that the thermoelectric couplearray 1240 performs the heat generating operation or the heat absorbingoperation, and the hot heat generated by the heat generating operationor the cold heat generated by the heat absorbing operation istransmitted to the user's skin through the contact surface 1600. Theheat transmitted to the skin stimulates the hot spot or the cold spot ofthe skin, and the user can feel the hot sensation when the hot spot isstimulated, the cold sensation when the cold spot is stimulated, or apain sensation when the both of hot spot and cold spot are stimulated atthe same time.

FIG. 40 is a graph showing a temperature change of the contact surface1600 in the heat generating operation according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 40 , when the heat generating operation or the heatabsorbing operation is started as the operating power is applied, thetemperature of the contact surface 1600 does not reach to the saturationtemperature immediately but changes gradually from the initialtemperature to reach the saturation temperature, since thethermoelectric couple array 1240 and the contact surface 1600 have acertain heat capacity. Likewise, when the operating power is cut off tostop the heat generating operation or the heat absorbing operation, thetemperature of the contact surface 1600 does not return to the initialtemperature immediately but changes gradually from the saturationtemperature to the initial temperature.

The thermal inversion illusion may be felt in the process of returningthe temperature of the contact surface 1600 to the initial temperaturein accordance with the termination of the heat generating operation orthe heat absorbing operation.

For example, if the heat generating operation is stopped in the hotfeedback state, the temperature of the contact surface 1600 decreasesfrom the saturation temperature to the initial temperature. In thisprocess, the number of hot spots which are stimulated by the hotfeedback decreases, and the user feels a cold feeling instantly eventhough the temperature does not fall below the initial temperature.Conversely, if the heat absorbing operation stopped in the cold feedbackstate, the temperature increases from the saturation temperature to theinitial temperature. In this process, the number of cold spots which arestimulated by the cold feedback decreases and the user feels a hotfeeling instantly even though the temperature does not rise above theinitial temperature.

In sum, the thermal inversion illusion is a thermal illusionarysensation that is felt by the user, even though it is not physicallygiven, when the temperature changes due to eliminating the existingthermal feedback, and that is opposite to the eliminated thermalfeedback

FIG. 41 is a graph showing the thermal inversion illusion according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

Experimental observation shows that the thermal inversion illusion isstronger as the difference between the saturation temperature and theinitial temperature is larger and the rate of temperature change isfaster. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 41 , when the high-intensitythermal feedback with a large temperature change amount relative to theskin temperature is terminated, the magnitude of the temperature changeoccurring in the process of the return to the initial temperature islarge and the temperature change speed is fast so that the thermalinversion illusion is felt strongly. In contrast, when the low-intensitythermal feedback with a small temperature change relative to the skintemperature is terminated, the temperature change caused by the processis small and the temperature change speed is slow, thus the thermalinversion illusion may not be felt substantially.

2.3.2. Buffering Operation for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion

The feedback device 100 may eliminate the thermal inversion illusion byalleviating the rate of temperature change that occurs in the process ofreturning to the initial temperature upon terminating of the thermalfeedback.

FIG. 42 is a graph showing to the temperature change of the contactsurface 1600 due to a buffering power according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 42 , the feedback controller 1400 may apply abuffering power to the heat outputting module 1200 instead ofimmediately shutting off the operating power when stopping the thermalfeedback. Here, the buffering power may have the same current directionas the operating power for the thermal feedback, and the voltage orcurrent magnitude of the buffering power may be smaller than those ofthe operating power for the thermal feedback. The feedback controller1400 may apply the buffering power for a predetermined time durationinstead of immediately cutting off the power so that the temperaturechange rate of returning from the saturation temperature to the initialtemperature may be reduced. Thus, the thermal inversion illusion can bereduced or eliminated because the temperature is not suddenly changedwhen the thermal feedback is terminated.

On the other hand, the feedback device 100 may use the buffering powerhaving multi voltage values for the operation for preventing the thermalinversion illusion. Hereinafter, an operation which applies thebuffering power is referred to as “buffering operation,” and the voltageand current of the buffering power is referred to as “buffering voltage”and “buffering current.” Also, the application time of the bufferingpower or the time duration performing the buffering operation isreferred to as “buffering duration.”

FIG. 43 is a graph showing to a temperature change of the contactsurface 1600 due to a buffering power having multiple voltage valuesaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 43 , the feedback device 100 may perform the bufferingoperation using the first, second, and third buffering voltages.Specifically, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the operatingvoltage, the first buffering voltage, the second buffering voltage, andthe third buffering voltage in order, and shut off the power supply whenthe thermal feedback ends.

In the case of high-intensity thermal feedback, the temperature changemay be still relatively abrupt when only a single buffering voltage isused. If the multi-stage buffering voltage is used, the thermalinversion illusion may be removed also for the high-intensity thermalfeedback.

In particular, if the feedback device 100 is capable of outputting thethermal feedback at multiple intensity levels, an operating voltage fora lower-level thermal feedback may be used as the buffering voltage forthe higher-level thermal feedback.

Also in the above description, the buffering voltage in the bufferingoperation is described as a constant voltage or a step voltage. However,the buffering voltage may have an electrical signal that graduallydecreases with time.

2.3.3. Other Buffering Operation

In the above description, when the operating power applied for thethermal feedback is cut off to terminate the output of the thermalfeedback, the buffering power may be applied to prevent the occurrenceof the thermal inversion illusion.

However, the PWM signal may also be used as the buffering power for anoperation for preventing the thermal inversion illusion, that is, thebuffering operation.

For example, the feedback controller 1400 of the feedback device 100 mayuse a PWM power having a voltage equal to or lower than that of theoperating power as the buffering power at the time of cutting off theoperating power. Here, when the operating power is a PWM signal, thebuffering power may be a PWM signal having a lower duty rate than theoperating power.

Or in case that thermoelectric element is implemented as thethermoelectric couple array 1240 having a plurality of individuallycontrollable thermoelectric couple groups 1244, the buffering operationmay also be performed by maintaining application of the operating powerto smaller numbers of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 than thethermoelectric couple groups 1244 for outputting the thermal feedbackduring the buffering duration. For example, in the case of outputtingthermal feedback using a thermoelectric couple array 1240 having fivethermoelectric couple groups 1244, the buffering operation may beperformed by maintaining the operating power for two thermoelectriccouple groups 1244 and cutting off the operating power for the remainingthree thermoelectric couple groups 1244. That is, the bufferingoperation is performed according to a manner of gradually reducing thenumber of the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 performing thethermoelectric operation from the whole thermoelectric couple array1240.

In the above description, the buffering operation is performed byapplying the buffering power in succession to the stoppage of theoperating power supply. However, the buffering power may alternativelybe applied at a predetermined time after the operation power supply isstopped.

2.3.4. Buffering Operation Considering Intensity of Thermal Feedback

Thermal inversion illusion may be caused only by terminating ofrelatively strong intensity thermal feedback, and may not be caused byterminating of relatively weak intensity thermal feedback.

Accordingly, when providing the thermal feedback of various intensities,the feedback device 100 may determine whether to perform the bufferingoperation based on the intensity of the thermal feedback. That is, thefeedback device 100 may not perform the operation for preventing thethermal inversion illusion for the weak thermal feedback that is notlikely to cause the thermal inversion illusion.

FIG. 44 is a graph showing a temperature change upon a termination ofthe thermal feedback of various intensities according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 44 , the feedback device 100 may provide fiveintensity levels for hot feedback and cold feedback, respectively.Assuming only top three intensity levels of the thermal feedback causesthe thermal inversion illusion, the feedback device 100 may perform thebuffering operation for the upper three intensity levels and not performthe buffering operation for the remaining lower two intensity levels.Specifically, the feedback controller 1400 may obtain information on theintensity of the thermal feedback, and determine whether the thermalfeedback intensity is smaller than a predetermined level. If theintensity of the thermal feedback is smaller than the predeterminedlevel, the feedback controller 1400 may cut off the operating powerimmediately after terminating the thermal feedback. If the intensity ofthe thermal feedback is equal to or greater than the predeterminedlevel, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the buffering power for apredetermined time duration after terminating the thermal feedback, andcut off all the power.

When the feedback device 100 provides thermal feedback of multipleintensities, thermal inversion illusion may occur in the higherintensity thermal feedbacks while thermal inversion illusion may notoccur in the lower intensity thermal feedbacks. Thus, to prevent thermalinversion illusion, the operating voltage used for the thermal feedbackof the lower intensity may be used as the buffering voltage.

The magnitude of the buffering voltage and the time length of thebuffering duration during which the buffering power is applied may alsobe set differently depending on the intensity of the thermal feedback.Thus, feedback device 100 may set the buffering voltage forhigh-intensity thermal feedback to be greater than the buffering voltagefor low-intensity thermal feedback. Similarly, the feedback device 100may also set the buffering duration for high-intensity thermal feedbackto be longer than the buffering duration for low-intensity thermalfeedback.

2.3.5. Buffering Operation Considering Type of Thermal Feedback

The above-described thermal inversion illusion may be felt differentlyin the hot feedback and the cold feedback, even under the sameconditions. This is because the temperature change rate due to thestopping of the hot feedback and the temperature change rate due to thestopping of the cold feedback are different from each other.

FIG. 45 is a graph showing the difference in temperature change ratebetween the hot feedback and the cold feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 45 shows the temperature drop rate occurring when the hot feedbackis stopped is smaller than the temperature rise rate occurring when thecold feedback is stopped.

When electrical energy is applied to the thermoelectric element, some ofthe electrical energy induces an exothermic reaction and an endothermicreaction, while the rest of the electric energy is converted to wasteheat energy. Here, some of the waste heat energy is discharged through aheat sink or the like connected to the thermoelectric element, but apart thereof remains in the thermoelectric element in the form ofresidual heat. When the supply of electric energy to the thermoelectricelement is shut off, the heat generating side and the heat absorbingside are intended to achieve thermal equilibrium by conduction. Thetemperature change of the contact surface 1600 or the front surface ofthe thermoelectric couple array 1240 due to the termination of thethermal feedback may have residual heat in addition to the temperatureof the rear surface of the thermoelectric couple array 1240. Theresidual heat acts hinders the temperature drop of the contact surface1600 or the front surface of the thermoelectric couple array 1240 at theend of the hot feedback. On the contrary, when the cold feedback isstopped, the residual heat acts as a factor for enhancing thetemperature rise of the contact surface 1600 or the front surface of thethermoelectric couple array 1240. Therefore, in general, the temperaturechange rate at the time of stopping the hot feedback is smaller than thetemperature change rate at the time of stopping of the cold feedback.Thus, the thermal inversion illusion may be felt more strongly upontermination of the hot feedback, even under the same conditions.

Accordingly, the feedback device 100 may process the operation forpreventing the thermal inversion illusion differently at the end of thehot feedback and at the end of the cold feedback,

FIG. 46 is a graph showing a difference between the buffering durationat the end of the hot feedback and the cold feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, as shown in FIG. 46 , the feedback device 100 may set thetime length of the buffering duration of the cold feedback to be longerthan the length of the buffering period of the hot feedback. Thefeedback controller 1400 may obtain the type of the thermal feedback atthe end of the thermal feedback, determine the time length of thebuffering duration in consideration of the type of the thermal feedback,and apply the buffering power to the heat outputting module 1200 for thedetermined buffering duration. That is, the feedback controller 1400determines whether the thermal feedback is hot feedback or coldfeedback, sets the buffering duration to the first-time length when thethermal feedback is the hot feedback or to the second-time length longerthan the first-time length when the thermal feedback is cold feedback.

The feedback device 100 may determine whether to perform the operationfor preventing the thermal inversion illusion based on both the type ofthe thermal feedback and the intensity of the thermal feedback. Forexample, in the description of FIG. 44 , it is mentioned that theoperation for preventing the thermal inversion illusion may be performedonly for the hot feedback of the upper three intensity levels amongtotal five intensity levels, and the operation may not be performed forthe remaining lower two intensity levels. However, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may perform the buffering operation only for the top twointensity levels of the hot feedback while performing the bufferingoperation for the top three intensity levels of the cold feedback.

2.3.6. Buffering Operation Upon Termination of Thermal Grill Feedback

In the above description, the thermal inversion illusion is mainlycaused by the termination of the hot feedback and the cold feedback.However, a similar phenomena may also occur for the thermal grillfeedback.

FIG. 47 is a graph showing a temperature change of the contact surface1600 at the end of the thermal grill feedback according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 47 , when the thermal grill feedback provided byperforming simultaneously the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation is terminated, the portion providing the coldfeedback may return the initial temperature earlier than the portionproviding the hot feedback. That is, the temperature of the portionproviding the hot feedback reaches the initial temperature after thetemperature of the portion providing the cold feedback reaches theinitial temperature. This may be due to the residual heat as describedabove. Accordingly, even though the feedback device 100 stops the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation at the same time,the user may feel unintended warmth at the end of the neutral grillfeedback.

FIG. 48 is a graph showing an operation for eliminating warmth at theend of the thermal grill feedback according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Accordingly, the feedback device 100 may eliminate the feeling of warmthfelt at the end of the thermal grill feedback by postponing the end ofthe heat absorbing operation to after the end of the heat generatingoperation when the heat generating operation and the heat absorbingoperation are stopped to terminate the thermal grill feedback.Specifically, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltageto heat outputting module 1200 up to a first time point and apply thereverse voltage up to a second time point later than the first timepoint to eliminate the feeling of warmth which is felt at the end of thethermal grill feedback.

However, when the neutral grill feedback is terminated, there may be acase where a feeling of coolness is felt instead of warmth. The neutralgrill feedback may be output when the ratio of the temperature due tothe heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation is theneutral ratio. According to the neutral ratio, the temperature changeamount with respect to the initial temperature is larger at the heatabsorbing operation than at the heat generating operation.

Specifically, in case that the neutral ratio is about 2.5, when theneutral grill feedback ends, the temperature of the hot portion of thecontact surface 1600 may reach the initial temperature first and thetemperature of the cold portion of the contact surface 1600 may reachthe initial temperature later. When the feedback device 100 stops theheat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation forterminating the thermal grill feedback, the feedback device 100 may stopthe heat absorbing operation earlier than the heat generating operation.

Specifically, when the thermal grill feedback ends, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may apply the reverse voltage to the heat outputtingmodule 1200 up to a first-time point, and apply the forward voltage upto a second time point later than the first time point to reduce oreliminate the cold feeling which may otherwise be felt at the end of thethermal grill feedback.

Here, it is described that the user feels cold feeling during the periodfrom after the temperature of the heat generating portion reaches theinitial temperature to before the temperature of the heat absorptionportion reaches the initial temperature. However, because thetemperature change rate of the heat absorbing portion is faster than thetemperature change rate of the heat generation portion, the user mayfeel warmth rather than coldness at the end of the thermal grillfeedback. When stopping the heat generating operation and the heatabsorbing operation to terminate the thermal grill feedback, thefeedback device 100 may eliminate the feeling of warmth which is felt atthe end of the thermal grill feedback by setting the end time of theheat generating operation to be after the end time of the heat absorbingoperation.

Alternatively, the buffering operation may be performed at the end ofthe thermal grill feedback to prevent the thermal inversion illusionfrom being felt by the temperature change due to the end of the heatgenerating operation or heat absorbing operation. Since this has alreadybeen described above in detail, a detailed description thereof will beomitted.

2.4. Heat Moving Operation

Hereinafter, a heat moving operation will be described. Here, the heatmoving operation is an operation for moving a hot or cold area in thecontact surface 1600, which may be performed using the heat outputtingmodule 1200 composed of a plurality of individually controllablethermoelectric couple groups 1244.

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat moving operationaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 50illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 49 .

Referring to FIGS. 49 and 50 , the heat outputting module 1200 mayinclude a first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1, a secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2, a third thermoelectric couple group1244-3, and a fourth thermoelectric couple group 1244-4.

The feedback controller 1400 may sequentially apply the operating powerto the thermoelectric couple groups. Accordingly, the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may first perform a thermoelectricoperation (where the thermoelectric operation includes the heatgenerating operation, the heat absorbing operation, and a thermal grilloperation). The second thermoelectric couple groups 1244-2, thirdthermoelectric couple groups 1244-3, and fourth thermoelectric couplegroups 1244-4 may perform the thermoelectric operation in this order.

In addition, the feedback controller 1400 may cut off the operatingpower to one thermoelectric couple group 1244 at the start time of theapplication of the operating power to another thermopile group 1244 nextto the one thermoelectric couple group. Accordingly, the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may stop the thermoelectric operationwhen the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 starts thethermoelectric operation, and the second thermoelectric couple group1244-3 may stop the thermoelectric operation when the thermoelectriccouple group 1244-3 starts thermoelectric operation, the thermoelectricconversion group 1244-3 may stop thermoelectric operation when thethermoelectric couple group 1244-4 starts thermoelectric operation.

Thus, the user can feel the heat moving from the area where the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 is arranged to the area where thefourth thermoelectric couple group 1244-4 is arranged on the contactsurface 1600.

The above-described example may be utilized as follows.

For example, when the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups arearranged in the horizontal direction while the feedback device isgrasped by the user, the cold heat is moved from one side to the otherside so that the user may be provided with a feeling of a cool windpassing. Also, moving the hot heat can provide a feeling of passing theheat source.

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating another example of the heat movingoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.52 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 51 .

FIGS. 51 and 52 , the heat outputting module 1200 may include a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1, a second thermoelectric couple group1244-2, a third thermoelectric couple group 1244-3, and fourththermoelectric couple group 1244-4.

Here, the feedback controller 1400 may sequentially apply the operatingpower to the thermoelectric couple groups 1244. Accordingly, the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may perform the thermoelectricoperation first. The second, third, and fourth thermoelectric couplegroups 1244-2, 1244-3, and 1244-4 may perform the thermoelectricoperation in this order.

Also, the feedback controller 1400 may cut off the operating power tothe specific thermoelectric couple group after a predetermined time fromwhen the power is applied to the thermoelectric couple group 1244 whichis positioned next to the specific thermoelectric couple group.Accordingly, when the thermal sensation by the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 is terminated, the user may sense the heat sensationby the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2. Similarly, when thethermal sensation by the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 isterminated, the user may sense the heat sensation by the thirdthermoelectric couple group 1244-3, and when the thermal sensation bythe third thermoelectric couple group 1244-3 is terminated, the user maysense the heat sensation by the fourth thermoelectric couple group1244-3.

This considers the time period in which the contact surface reaches atemperature at which the user feels a sense of heat from the time whenthe operating power is applied to the thermoelectric couple group. Here,the predetermined time may correspond to a delay time until thetemperature of the contact surface reaches a temperature enough for userto feel the heat after power is applied to the thermoelectric element.

Accordingly, the user can feel the heat movement from the area where thefirst thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 is arranged to the area wherethe fourth thermoelectric couple group 1244-4 is arranged on the contactsurface.

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of the heat movingoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.54 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heat movingoperation according to FIG. 53 .

FIGS. 53 and 54 , the heat outputting module 1200 may include a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1, a second thermoelectric couple group1244-2, a third thermoelectric couple group 1244-3, 4 thermoelectriccouple group 1244-4.

The feedback controller 1400 may sequentially apply the operating powerto the thermoelectric couple groups 1244. Accordingly, the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may perform the thermoelectricoperation first. The second, third, and fourth thermoelectric couplegroups 1244-2, 1244-3, and 1244-4 may perform the thermoelectricoperation in this order.

In the other hand, the feedback controller 1400 may not turn off thepower for the thermoelectric elements to which the power is applied.Accordingly, the user can feel that the feedback area on the contactsurface increases from a region where the first thermoelectric couplegroup 1244-1 is arranged to the region where the fourth thermoelectriccouple group 1244-4 is arranged.

The above-described example may be utilized as follows.

For example, when the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups arearranged in the vertical direction while the feedback device is graspedby the user, the cool region is increased sequentially from lower sideto the upper side so that the user may be provided with a feeling ofsoaking the body in cold water from below.

FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the heatmoving operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,and FIG. 56 illustrates an example of an electric signal for the heatmoving operation according to FIG. 55 .

FIGS. 55 and 56 , the heat outputting module 1200 includes a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1, a second thermoelectric couple group1244-2, a third thermoelectric couple group 1244-3, a fourththermoelectric couple group 1244-4.

Here, all the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 may be in a state inwhich the operating power is applied to perform thermoelectricoperation. In this state, the feedback controller 1400 may turn off thepower to the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 in order. Accordingly,the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 first stops thethermoelectric operation, and the thermoelectric operation is stopped inthe order of the second, third and fourth thermoelectric couple groups1244-2, 1244-3 and 1244-4.

Accordingly, the user may feel the heat disappearing from the regionwhere the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 is disposed to theregion where the fourth thermoelectric couple 1244-4 is disposed.

The above-described example can be utilized as follows.

For example, when the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups arearranged in the vertical direction while the feedback device is graspedby the user, the cool region is decreased from upper side to the lowerside so that the user may be provided with a feeling of getting out ofcold water from below.

In the example of the above-described heat moving operation, the fourthermoelectric couple groups 1244 are arranged in a one-dimensionalarray. However, the heat moving operation according to the presentdisclosure is not limited to the above example.

3. Providing Thermal Feedback

Hereinafter, a method for providing the thermal feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The method forproviding the thermal feedback will be described using the feedbackdevice 100 and the operation of the feedback device 100 described above.However, it should be noted that this is merely to facilitateexplanations, and the method for providing the thermal feedback is notlimited by the feedback device 100 and the operation of feedback device100.

In the following description, the feedback device 100 is described asbeing in the form of the gaming controller 100 a. It should be noted,however, that the feedback device 100 performing the method forproviding the thermal feedback is not limited to the gaming controller100 a, and other types of feedback device 100 may be used.

3.1. Method for Initiating and Terminating Thermal Feedback

FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a first example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the first example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to initiating and terminating the thermal feedback.

Referring to FIG. 57 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S1100), obtainingfeedback information (S1200), outputting an electrical signal based onthe feedback information (S1300), providing the thermal feedback inaccordance with the electrical signal (S1400), and terminating thethermal feedback in accordance with the feedback termination message(S1500).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, the feedback request message may be obtained (S1100). Forexample, the game console may generate the feedback request messageaccording to the information processing result in the game, and transmitthe feedback request message to the feedback device 100. In the feedbackdevice 100, the application controller 2700 may receive the feedbackrequest message via the communication module 2500.

Here, in case that the feedback device 100 is a standalone type, thefeedback device 100 itself may acquire the feedback request message. Insome embodiments, the application controller 2700 may receive thefeedback request message in the form of a user input via the inputmodule 2200. For example, the thermal feedback may be triggered when theuser pushes a button on feedback device 100. In other embodiments, theapplication controller 2700 may obtain the feedback request message whenthe sensor module detects a specific condition.

When the feedback request message is obtained, the feedback informationmay be obtained (S1200). Here, the feedback information may includeinformation on the type of the thermal feedback, the intensity of thethermal feedback and the application time of the thermal feedback. Here,the application time may include at least one of a start time of thethermal feedback, an end time of the thermal feedback and a timeduration of the thermal feedback. Such information may directly includedata on the type, intensity and time duration of the thermal feedback,but may indirectly include data on the type, intensity and time of thethermal feedback.

In one example, the feedback request message may include the feedbackinformation. Thus, the feedback request message received from the gameconsole includes the feedback information, so that the applicationcontroller 2700 may obtain the feedback information by extracting itfrom the feedback request message.

In another example, the feedback information is stored in the memory2600, and the feedback request message may include an identifier whichis used for obtaining the feedback information stored in the memory2600. Thus, the game controller may extract the identifier from thereceived feedback request message and obtain the feedback informationcorresponding to the received feedback request message from the feedbackinformation table stored in the memory 2600 by using the extractedidentifier.

In another example, the feedback request message may simply request theinitiation of the thermal feedback, and the application controller 2700may load the pre-stored feedback information from the memory 2600according to the feedback request message.

An electric signal may be output based on the feedback information(S1300). The application controller 2700 may transmit the feedbackinformation to the feedback controller 1400. The feedback controller1400 may generate an electric signal to be applied to the heatoutputting module 1200 based on the feedback information.

The feedback controller 1400 may determine the current direction of theelectric signal, that is, the operating power based on the type of thethermal feedback. When the thermal feedback is a hot feedback, thefeedback controller 1400 determines that the current direction of theoperating power is a forward direction, and when the thermal feedback isa cold feedback, it is determined that the current direction of theoperating power is a reverse direction. In the case of the thermal grillfeedback, the feedback controller 1400 may decide to apply the forwardpower and the reverse power simultaneously or alternately.

Also, the feedback controller 1400 may determine the magnitude of theoperating voltage or operating current based on the intensity of thethermal feedback. A voltage table or a current value table relating tothe magnitude of the voltage or current according to the intensity ofthe thermal feedback may be stored in the memory 2600. The feedbackcontroller 1400 may determine the magnitude of the voltage or current tobe applied based on the voltage/current table considering the intensityof the thermal feedback. On the other hand, since the magnitude of theoperating voltage or operating current may be set differently accordingto the type of the thermal feedback, the feedback controller 1400 mayconsider the type of the thermal feedback when referring to the voltagetable.

Also, the feedback controller 1400 may determine the period of time toapply the operating power, that is, the application duration based onthe time information included in the feedback information.

Once the current direction, the magnitude of the operating power, andthe application time are determined, the feedback controller 1400 mayapply the electrical signal corresponding to the determined result tothe heat outputting module 1200.

The heat outputting module 1200 may receive the electrical signalthrough the power terminal 1260, and thus the thermoelectric couplearray 1240 may perform the heat generating operation, the heat absorbingoperation, or the thermal grill operation according to the electricalsignal (S1400). Accordingly, the feedback device 100 may output thethermal feedback to the user.

The feedback end message may be obtained and the thermal feedback may beterminated (S1500). The feedback end message indicates termination ofthe thermal feedback, and the feedback device 100 may obtain thefeedback termination message in a manner similar to the manner in whichthe feedback request message was obtained. The feedback device 100 maycease the thermoelectric operation when the feedback end message isreceived. However, the feedback end message may not be required toterminate the thermoelectric operation. For example, if the feedbackinformation includes information on the time duration for applying thethermal feedback, the feedback device 100 may apply the thermoelectricoperation for the corresponding time duration, and stop the operationafter the time duration passed to terminate the thermal feedback. Thetime duration may include a start time and the end time.

In another example, the feedback request message may directly controlthe initiation and termination of the thermal feedback, withoutreference to information in memory. For example, if the feedback requestmessage is a modulated voltage signal, feedback device 100 may initiatethe thermal feedback when the voltage signal is asserted and terminatedwhen the voltage signal is no longer asserted. In such embodiments,feedback controller 1400 may include circuits or electric devices thatare enabled or disabled by the feedback request message (e.g., MOSFETdrivers). Alternatively, a voltage magnitude may determine initiationand termination of the thermal feedback. For instance, a voltagemagnitude is above a predetermined threshold, feedback controller 1400may initiate the thermal feedback while a voltage magnitude below suchthreshold may terminate thermal feedback. In additional embodiments, thefeedback request message may adjust the thermal feedback. For example,the feedback message may include information that instruct feedbackcontroller 1400 to increase or decrease the output voltage or current.In yet other embodiments, the feedback request message may includeinformation to initiate and terminate the thermal feedback in apredetermined period. For example, the feedback request message mayspecify a thermal feedback lasts 1 second based on the encodedmodulation. In yet other embodiments, the feedback request message mayspecify the duty cycle of a PWM signal. For example, the feedbackrequest message may be a signal from 0 to 1V which is interpreted byfeedback controller 1400 as 0-100% duty cycle for outputting module1200.

3.2 Method for Providing Thermal Grill Feedback

3.2.1 Method for Providing Thermal Grill Feedback by Using OperatingPower Control

FIG. 58 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the second example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to providing the thermal grill feedback.Specifically, the second example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to providing the thermal grill feedback by using theoperating power control manner.

Referring to FIG. 58 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S2100), obtainingfeedback information (S2200), determining a type of the thermal feedbackto be output based on the feedback information, which is in particulardetermining whether or not the type of the thermal feedback to be outputis the thermal grill feedback (S2300), when the type of the thermalfeedback is the thermal grill feedback, determining the voltage to beapplied for the thermal grill operation (S2400); and outputtingsimultaneously a high intensity hot feedback and a low intensity coldfeedback (S2500).

The second example of the method for providing the thermal feedback maybe performed by the feedback device 100 having the following features.

First, the feedback device 100 can perform simultaneously the heatgenerating operation in a portion of the contact surface 1600 and theheat absorbing operation in another portion of the contact surface 1600.To this end, the thermoelectric couple array 1240 includes a pluralityof thermoelectric couple groups 1244 which are individuallycontrollable, and the feedback controller 1400 can control the pluralityof the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 individually.

Second, the feedback device 100 may output the hot feedback and the coldfeedback in multiple intensity levels respectively. Therefore, thefeedback controller 1400 can output an electric signal with amulti-level forward voltage and a multi-level reverse voltage.

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, the feedback request message may be obtained (S2100). This stepmay be similar to step S1100 in the first example of the method forproviding the thermal feedback.

The feedback information may be obtained (S2200). This step may besimilar to step S1200 in the first example of the method for providingthe thermal feedback.

However, the feedback information may include at least information onthe type of thermal feedback. The type of the thermal feedback includeshot feedback, cold feedback, and thermal grill feedback. The feedbackinformation may further include information on the intensity level ofthe thermal feedback and the time duration of the application of thethermal feedback.

The type of the thermal feedback to be performed may be determined basedon the feedback information (S2300).

If the type of the thermal feedback is the hot feedback, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may apply the forward operating power to the heatoutputting module 1200 and the heat outputting module 1200 may performthe heat generating operation. If the type of the thermal feedback isthe cold feedback, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the reverseoperating power to the heat outputting module 1200 and the heatoutputting module 1200 may perform the heat absorbing operation. Here,the feedback controller 1400 may adjust the voltage level of the forwardoperating power or the reverse operating power according to theinformation on the intensity of the thermal feedback included in thefeedback information.

If the type of the thermal feedback is the thermal grill feedback, thethermal grill operation may be performed as follows.

A voltage to be applied for the thermal grill operation, that is, theoperating voltage is determined (S2400).

A table related to the voltage level and a table related to thethermoelectric couple group 1244 may be stored in the memory 2600.Hereinafter, the table related to the voltage level is referred to as“operating voltage table” and the table related to the thermoelectriccouple group 1244 is referred to as “operating group table.”

The operating voltage table relates to the operating voltages of variousvoltage levels for each of the hot feedback and the cold feedback. Forexample, the memory 2600, of which the feedback device 100 can providethe hot feedback and cold feedback of four intensity levels, may storethe four levels of the forward voltage values for the hot feedback andthe four levels of the reverse voltage values for the cold feedback. Ifthe hot feedback and cold feedback use the same voltage values, thememory 2600 may store only four levels of voltage values.

The operating group table may include information on a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244 and a second thermoelectric couplegroup 1244.

The feedback controller 1400 may obtain the forward voltage level andthe reverse voltage level which are used for the thermal grill operationby referring to the operating voltage table stored in the memory 2600.In case of outputting the neutral grill feedback, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may determine the level of the forward voltage suitablefor the thermal grill operation to be lower than the level of thereverse voltage suitable for the thermal grill operation because theintensity of the heat absorbing operation need to be stronger than theintensity of the heat generating operation. For example, the feedbackdevice 100 may select first level forward voltage and the third levelreverse voltage or the first level forward voltage and the fourth levelreverse voltage. Each value may vary somewhat depending on thespecification of the feedback device 100, but it is essential that thelevel of the reverse voltage be greater than the level of the forwardvoltage.

To perform the neutral grill feedback, the intensity ratio of the coldfeedback to the hot feedback needs to approximate the neutral ratio.Therefore, the feedback controller 1400 may select the magnitude of theforward voltage and the reverse voltage so that the intensity ratio ofthe cold feedback to the hot feedback approximates the neutral ratio.

Both the low-intensity hot feedback and the high-intensity cold feedbackare simultaneously output (S2500).

When the voltage level is determined, the feedback controller 1400 mayapply the forward voltage to the first thermoelectric couple group 1244and apply the reverse voltage to the second thermoelectric couple group1244 based on the operating group table. Here, the voltage magnitude ofthe reverse voltage is larger than the voltage magnitude of the forwardvoltage. This means that in terms of the intensity of the thermalfeedback, the intensity of the heat absorbing operation used in thethermal grill operation is greater than the intensity of the heatgenerating operation used in the thermal grill operation.

The feedback device 100 may perform thermal grill feedback by the abovesteps.

3.2.2 Method for Providing Thermal Grill Feedback by Using OperatingArea Control

FIG. 59 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the third example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to providing the thermal grill feedback. Specifically, thethird example of the method for providing the thermal feedback isrelated to providing the thermal grill feedback by using the operatingarea control manner.

Referring to FIG. 59 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S3100), acquiringfeedback information (S3200), determining a type of the thermal feedbackto be output based on the feedback information, which is in particulardetermining whether or not the type of the thermal feedback to be outputis the thermal grill feedback (S3300), when the type of the thermalfeedback is the thermal grill feedback, determining a region to which avoltage for a thermal grill operation is applied (S3400), and outputtingsimultaneously the hot feedback and the cold feedback through a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and a second thermoelectric couplegroup 1244-2 (S3500).

The third example of the method for providing the thermal feedback maybe performed by the feedback device 100 having the following features:

The feedback device 100 can perform the heat generating operation in aportion of the contact surface 1600 and the heat absorbing operation inanother portion of the contact surface 1600 simultaneously. Thethermoelectric couple array 1240 of the feedback device 100 includes aplurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244 which are individuallycontrollable, as described above. The feedback controller 1400 cancontrol the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244 individually,as described above.

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, the feedback request message is acquired (S3100), the feedbackinformation is obtained (S3200), and the type of the thermal feedback tobe output is determined based on the feedback information. These stepsmay be similar to steps S2100, S2200, S2300 in the second example of themethod for providing the thermal feedback, respectively.

If the type of the thermal feedback is the thermal grill feedback, thethermal grill operation is performed as follows:

The region of the thermoelectric couple array 1240 to which a voltage isapplied for the thermal grill operation is determined (S3400).

The feedback controller 1400 may determines the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 to perform the heat generating operation and thesecond thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 to perform the heat absorbingoperation among the plurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244included in the thermoelectric couple array 1240. The feedbackcontroller 1400 may select the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 so that the ratio ofthe temperature change amount of the second thermoelectric couple group1244-2 to the temperature change amount of the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the area ratio of the second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2 to the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1establish the neutral ratio.

For example, when the temperature change amount of the heat generatingoperation and that of the heat absorbing operation is same, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may adjust the area size of the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 sothat the neutral ratio is established by the area ratio of the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 to the first second thermoelectriccouple group 1244-2.

Lastly, the hot feedback and the cold feedback are simultaneously outputthrough the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the secondthermoelectric couple group 1244-2 (S3500), respectively.

The feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward operating power tothe first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and apply the reverseoperating power to the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2.Accordingly, the heat generating operation is performed in the firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and the heat absorbing operation isperformed in the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2. Thus, thehot feedback and the cold feedback may be outputted via each region ofthe contact surface 1600 to provide the thermal grill feedback to theuser.

The feedback device 100 may perform the thermal grill feedback by theabove steps.

3.2.3. Method for Providing Thermal Grill Feedback by Using OperatingTime Control

FIG. 60 is a flowchart of a fourth example of the method of providingthe thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the fourth example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to providing the thermal grill feedback.Specifically, the fourth example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to providing the thermal grill feedback by using theoperating time control manner.

Referring to FIG. 60 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S4100), obtainingfeedback information (S4200), determining a type of the thermal feedbackto be output based on the feedback information, which is in particulardetermining whether or not the type of the thermal feedback to be outputis the thermal grill feedback (S4300), when the type of the thermalfeedback is the thermal grill feedback, determining a duty rate of theoperating power for the thermal grill operation (S4400); and outputtingalternately the hot feedback and the cold feedback by applying theforward operating power and the reverse operating power in accordancewith the determined duty rate (S4500).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

The feedback request message is acquired (S4100), the feedbackinformation is obtained (S4200), and the type of the thermal feedback tobe performed is determined based on the feedback information (S4300). Inparticular, it is determined whether the type of the thermal feedback isthe thermal grill feedback (S4300). These steps may be similar to stepsS3100, S3200, and S3300 in the second example of the method forproviding the thermal feedback, respectively.

If the type of the thermal feedback is the thermal grill feedback, thethermal grill operation is performed as follows.

The duty rate of the operating power for the thermal grill operation isdetermined (S4400).

The feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward operating power andthe reverse operating power alternately with time, and determine theapplication time of the forward operating power and the application timeof the reverse operating power. Specifically, the feedback controller1400 may determine the application time for the forward operating powerand the application time for the reverse operating power so that thetemperature ratio of the heat absorbing operation to the heat generatingoperation and the time duration ratio of the application time for thereverse operating power to the application time for the forwardoperating power establish the neutral ratio. The repeating cycle of theheat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation may be lessthan a predetermined interval so that the user cannot recognize the hotfeedback and the cold feedback separately.

For example, when the temperature change amount of the heat generatingoperation and the temperature change amount of the heat absorbingoperation is the same, the feedback controller 1400 may adjust theapplication time for the forward operating power and the reverseoperating power so that the neutral ratio is established by the dutyrate. The duty rate may mean the rate of the application duration of theforward operating power and the reverse operating power.

In step S4500, a signal related to the hot feedback and a signal relatedto the cold feedback are alternately output in response to the electricsignal which applies the forward operating power and the reverseoperating power by turn to the heat outputting module 1200.

The feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltage during afirst duration and apply the reverse voltage during a second duration.Here, the first duration may correspond to the application time for theforward operating power and the second duration may correspond to theapplication time for the reverse operating power. Accordingly, the heatgenerating operation is performed during the first duration, and theheat absorbing operation is performed during the second duration. Thus,the hot feedback and the cold feedback may be performed alternately, andthus the thermal grill feedback may be provided to the user.

The feedback device 100 may perform thermal grill feedback by the abovesteps.

3.2.4. Method for Providing Thermal Grill Feedback by Using Combinationof Operating Area Control and Operating Time Control

FIG. 61 is a flowchart of a fifth example of the method of providing thethermal feedback according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Here, the fifth example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to providing the thermal grill feedback. Specifically, thefifth example of the method for providing the thermal feedback isrelated to providing the thermal grill feedback by using a combinationof the operating area control manner and the operating time controlmanner.

Referring to FIG. 61 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S5100), obtainingfeedback information (S5200), determining a type of the thermal feedbackto be output based on the feedback information—in particular,determining whether or not the type of the thermal feedback to be outputis the thermal grill feedback (S5300), when the type of the thermalfeedback is the thermal grill feedback, determining a firstthermoelectric couple group 1244-1 to perform a first operation and asecond thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 to perform a second operation(S5400), determining a duty rate of the power for a thermal grilloperation (S5500), and providing the hot feedback and the cold feedbacksimultaneously by outputting the hot feedback and cold feedbackalternately through the first thermoelectric group 1244-1 using a firstpower applying the forward voltage and the reverse voltage by turns tothe first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and by outputting the coldfeedback and the hot feedback alternately using a second power applyingthe reverse voltage and the forward voltage, where the first power andthe second power are staggered with each other (S5600).

A fifth example of the method for providing thermal feedback may beperformed by the feedback device 100 configured to perform the heatgenerating operation in a portion of the contact surface 1600 and theheat absorbing operation in another portion of the contact surfacesimultaneously. The thermoelectric couple array 1240 of the feedbackdevice 100 includes a plurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244which are individually controllable, as described above. The feedbackcontroller 1400 can control the plurality of thermoelectric couplegroups 1244 individually, as described above.

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, the feedback request message is obtained (S5100), the feedbackinformation is obtained (S5200), and the type of the thermal feedback tobe performed is determined based on the feedback information—Inparticular, it is determined whether the type of the thermal feedback isthermal grill feedback (S5300). These steps may be similar to stepsS4100, S4200, and S4300 in the fourth example of the method of providingthermal feedback, respectively.

When the type of the thermal feedback is the thermal grill feedback, thethermal grill operation is performed as follows.

First, the first thermoelectric couple group 1244 for performing thefirst operation and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244 forperforming the second operation are determined for the thermal grilloperation (S5400).

The feedback controller 1400 may determine the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 tohave the same area.

Here, the first operation and the second operation are operations inwhich the heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation arealternately performed with time using the duty cycle, and the order ofthe heat generating operation and the heat absorbing operation isshifted between the first operation and the second operation. That is,when the heat generating operation of the first operation is performed,the heat absorbing operation of the second operation may be performed,and when the heat absorbing operation of the first operation isperformed, the heat generating operation of the second operation may beperformed.

The duty rate related to the operating power is determined for thethermal grill operation (S5500).

The feedback controller 1400 may apply the forward voltage and thereverse voltage alternately in time, and determine the application timefor the forward voltage and the application time for applying thereverse voltage. Here, the feedback controller 1400 may adjust themagnitude of the forward voltage, the magnitude of the reverse voltage,the time duration of the forward voltage and the time duration of thereverse voltage so that the temperature change ratio of the heatabsorbing operation to the heat generating operation and the time ratioof the time for performing the heat absorbing operation to the time forperforming the heat generating operation establish the neutral ratio.

For example, the feedback controller 1400 may determine the forwardvoltage timing and the reverse voltage timing so that the neutral ratioin terms of time is established when the ratio of the temperature changeamount due to the heat generating operation and the temperature changeamount due to the heat absorbing operation is the same.

Lastly, the electric signal is applied to the first thermoelectriccouple group 1244-1 and the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2.Thus, the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 may output the hotfeedback when the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2 outputs thecold feedback, and the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 mayoutput the cold feedback when the second thermoelectric couple group1244-2 outputs the hot feedback. Therefore, the hot feedback and coldfeedback may be outputted simultaneously (S5500).

During a first period, the feedback controller 1400 may apply theforward voltage to the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and thereverse voltage to the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2. Also,during the second period, the feedback controller 1400 may apply thereverse voltage to the first thermoelectric couple group 1244-1 and theforward voltage to the second thermoelectric couple group 1244-2.Therefore, for the first period, the first thermoelectric group 1244-1may perform the heat generating operation and the second thermoelectricgroup 1244-2 may perform the heat absorbing operation. For the secondperiod, the first thermoelectric group 1244-1 may perform the heatabsorbing operation and the second thermoelectric group 1244-2 mayperform the heat generating operation. Thus, from the viewpoint of thethermoelectric couple array 1240, the hot feedback and cold feedback areprovided simultaneously, and from the viewpoint of each thermoelectriccouple group 1244, the hot feedback and cold feedback are providedalternately.

The feedback device 100 may perform thermal grill feedback by the abovesteps.

3.2.5. Regarding Neutral Grill Feedback, Hot Grill Feedback and ColdGrill Feedback

In the above-description related to the second to the fifth examples ofthe method for providing the thermal feedback according to an embodimentof the present disclosure, the neutral grill feedback was provided. Thehot grill feedback or the cold grill feedback may be provided instead ofthe neutral grill feedback.

For example, regarding the method for providing the thermal grillfeedback using the operating power control, the feedback controller 1400may adjust the magnitude ratio of the reverse voltage to forward voltageto be smaller than the voltage magnitude ratio used for the neutralgrill feedback, to provide the hot grill feedback. On the other hand,the feedback controller 1400 may adjust the magnitude ratio of thereverse voltage to forward voltage to be greater than the voltagemagnitude ratio used for the neutral grill feedback, to provide the coldgrill feedback.

As another example, regarding the method for providing the thermal grillfeedback using the operating area control, the feedback controller 1400may adjust the area ratio of the heat absorbing area to the heatgenerating area to be smaller than the area ratio used for the neutralgrill feedback, to provide the hot grill feedback. On the other hand,the feedback controller 1400 may adjust the area ratio of the heatabsorbing area to the heat generating area to be greater than the arearatio used for the neutral grill feedback, to provide the cold grillfeedback.

Yet another example, regarding the method for providing the thermalgrill feedback using the operating time control, the feedback controller1400 may adjust the time ratio of the heat absorbing period to the heatgenerating period to be smaller than the time ratio used for the neutralgrill feedback, to provide the hot grill feedback. On the other hand,the feedback controller 1400 may adjust the time ratio of the heatabsorbing period to the heat generating period to be greater than thetime ratio used for the neutral grill feedback, to provide the coldgrill feedback.

That is, the feedback device 100 may provide the hot grill feedback bydecreasing at least one of the voltage ratio, the area ratio, and thetime ratio of the heat absorbing operation to the heat generatingoperation and provide the cold grill feedback by increasing at least onethereof.

3.3. Regarding Preventing Skin Damage

In the above-description related to the first to the fifth examples ofthe method for providing the thermal feedback according to an embodimentof the present disclosure, it may be needed to avoid for the feedbackdevice 100 transmitting an excessively high amount of heat to the user.

To this end, the feedback controller 1400 may limit the magnitude of thevoltage applied to the thermoelectric couple array 1240 to be less thana predetermined threshold voltage value, or prevent the voltage applyingtime from exceeding a predetermined threshold time.

3.4. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion

3.4.1. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion Using BufferingOperation

FIG. 62 is a flowchart of a sixth example of the method for providingthe thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the sixth example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to preventing the thermal inversion illusion.

Referring to FIG. 62 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S6100), obtainingfeedback information (S6200), performing a heat generating operation ora heat absorbing operation (S6300), terminating the thermal feedback(S6400), and performing a buffering operation at the termination of thethermal feedback (S6500).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, a feedback request message is obtained (S6100), feedbackinformation is obtained (S6200), and a heat generating operation or theheat absorbing operation is performed based on the feedback information(S6300). These steps may be understood from another example of themethod for providing thermal feedback according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure described above. Here, the voltage applied to thethermoelectric couple array 1240 by the feedback controller 1400 for theheat generating operation or the heat absorbing operation is referred toas the operating voltage.

The thermal feedback is terminated (S6400).

The feedback controller 1400 may terminate the thermal feedback after apredetermined time from the start of the thermal feedback. That is, thefeedback controller 1400 may cut off the power to the thermoelectriccouple array 1240 after a predetermined time has passed since the heatgenerating operation or the heat absorbing operation is started.

Alternatively, the feedback controller 1400 may count the time since thethermal feedback is started and terminate the thermal feedback when thecounted time has passed a time indicated by the time informationincluded in the feedback information.

Or the feedback controller 1400 may terminate the thermal feedback uponreceiving the feedback termination message.

The termination of the thermal feedback may be achieved by shutting offthe operating power applied to the thermoelectric couple array 1240 forproviding the thermal feedback.

The buffering operation is performed at the end of the thermal feedback(S6500).

Here, the buffering operation is an operation for preventing thetemperature of the contact surface 1600 from suddenly changing from thesaturation temperature to the initial temperature at the end of the heatgenerating operation or the heat absorbing operation, in order toprevent the thermal inversion illusion phenomenon.

To this end, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the buffering powerto the thermoelectric couple array 1240 for a predetermined time at theend of the thermal feedback.

Here, the buffering power may have the same current direction with theoperating power. To this end, the feedback controller 1400 may determinethe current direction of the buffering power based on the currentdirection of the operating power or the type of the thermal feedbackapplied for outputting the thermal feedback.

And, the buffering power may be a power for inducing the thermoelectricoperation of which the intensity is smaller than the thermoelectricoperation induced by the operating power. To this end, the bufferingpower may have the following characteristics.

For example, the buffering power may have a voltage value smaller thanthe voltage value of the operating power, that is, the operatingvoltage. Similarly, the buffering current may have a current valuesmaller than the current value of the operating power, that is, theoperating current. In addition, the buffering voltage or the bufferingcurrent may take the form of decreasing during the buffering duration inwhich the buffering operation is performed.

As another example, the buffering power may be provided in the form of aduty signal. If the operating power is a direct current power, thebuffering power is provided as a duty signal, so that the rate oftemperature change on the contact surface 1600 may be reduced. If theoperating power is of the duty signal type, the buffering power sourcemay be provided with a duty signal whose duty rate is smaller than thatof the operating power, so that the rate of temperature change on thecontact surface 1600 may be reduced. Here, the duty rate of thebuffering power may be reduced during the buffering period.

Due to the buffering voltage is applied, the rate of temperature changeof the contact surface 1600 is reduced, so that the thermal inversionillusion may be alleviated or eliminated.

Alternatively, when the thermoelectric elements of the feedback device100 are provided as the thermoelectric couple array 1240 having theplurality of thermoelectric couple groups 1244, the buffering operationmay also be performed using the area control.

Specifically, the feedback controller 1400 may perform the bufferingoperation by applying the buffering power to a buffering group at theend of the thermal feedback. The buffering group may include lessthermoelectric couple group 1244 than the operating group, that is, thethermoelectric couple group to which the operating power is applied foroutputting the thermal feedback.

For example, at the end of the thermal feedback which is performed bythe ten thermoelectric couple groups 1244, the feedback controller 1400may apply the buffering power to the eight thermoelectric groups 1244 toweaken the intensity of the thermoelectric operation, so that the rateof temperature change toward the initial temperature on the contactsurface 1600 may be reduced. Here, the operating group does not includeall the thermoelectric couple groups 1244 of the thermoelectricelements. The buffering group only needs to be fewer than the operatinggroup, so the buffering group does not necessarily have to be part ofthe operating group.

As described above, when the buffering operation is performed using thearea control, a power whose voltage value, current value and duty rateare smaller than the operating power may be used as the buffering power.However, since the number of the thermoelectric couple groups includedin the buffering groups is smaller than the number of the thermoelectriccouple groups included in the operation group, the thermal inversionillusion may be prevented from occurring even when the operating poweris used as the buffering power.

In the above-description, the buffering operation may be interpreted asbeing implemented by applying the buffering power when the operatingpower is cut off. In the case where the operating power is used as thebuffering power, the buffering operation may be interpreted as beingimplemented by reducing the number of the thermoelectric couple groupsincluded in the operating group to which the operating power is applied.Specifically, the buffering operation may be implemented by reducing thenumber of the operation group during the buffering duration after theend of the thermal feedback instead of turning off the operating powerto the entire operation group at the end of the thermal feedback.

In the above-description, the buffering operation may be performedduring the buffering period after cutting off the operating power forterminating the output of the thermal feedback. However, the bufferingoperation does not necessarily have to be performed immediately when theoperation power is cut off, and the buffering operation may be performedafter a predetermined time has elapsed from when applying of theoperation power is stopped.

3.4.2. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion Using VoltageControl

Also, the buffering voltage may have a multi-level voltage value in theabove buffering operation. Whereby, the buffering operation may includea plurality of buffering stages. The plurality of buffering stages areperformed sequentially with time, and a larger voltage may be used aprior stage of the buffering operation.

For example, the feedback controller 1400 may set the first bufferingvoltage, the second buffering voltage, and the third buffering voltage.Accordingly, the feedback controller 1400 may performs the firstbuffering stage by applying the first buffering voltage, the secondbuffering stage by applying the second voltage, and the third bufferingstage by applying the third second buffering voltage.

Here, the first buffering voltage may be smaller than the operatingvoltage, the second buffering voltage may be smaller than the firstbuffering voltage, and the third buffering voltage may be smaller thanthe second buffering voltage. Accordingly, the first buffering stage mayfollow the heat generating or the heat absorbing operation, the secondbuffering zone may follow the first buffering stage, and the thirdbuffering stage may follow the second buffering stage. Here, the firstbuffering voltage, the second buffering voltage, the third bufferingvoltage have the same current direction with the operating voltage.

3.4.3. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion ConsideringThermal Feedback Intensity

FIG. 63 is a flowchart related to a seventh example of the method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the seventh example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to preventing the thermal inversion illusion.Specifically, the seventh example of the method for providing thethermal feedback is related to preventing the thermal inversion illusionconsidering the intensity of the terminated thermal feedback.

Referring to FIG. 63 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S7100), obtainingfeedback information (S7200), performing the heat generating operationor the heat absorbing operation based on the feedback information(S7300), terminating the thermal feedback (S7400), determining theintensity of the thermal feedback (S7500), and determining whether ornot to perform a buffering operation based on intensity of the thermalfeedback (S7600).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, the feedback request message is obtained (S7100), the feedbackinformation is obtained (S7200), the heat generating operation or theheat absorbing operation is performed based on the feedback information(S7300), and the thermal feedback is terminated (S7400). These steps maybe similar to steps S6100, S6200, S6300, and S6400 described above.

The intensity of the thermal feedback may be determined (S7500).

As the thermoelectric operation is terminated, the feedback controller1400 may determine the intensity of the thermal feedback that has beenterminated. The feedback controller 1400 may determine the intensity ofthe thermal feedback based on the voltage magnitude and currentdirection included in the feedback information.

Whether to perform the buffering operation may be determined based onthe intensity of the thermal feedback (S7600).

It may be determined whether the intensity of the thermal feedback isgreater than a predetermined intensity. Accordingly, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may perform the buffering operation when the intensityof the thermal feedback is greater than the predetermined intensity, andmay not perform the buffering operation when the intensity of thethermal feedback is not greater than the predetermined intensity.

In other words, the feedback controller 1400 may apply the bufferingvoltage to the thermoelectric couple array 1240 when the intensity ofthe thermal feedback is greater than the predetermined intensity, andmay not apply any power when the intensity of the thermal feedback isequal to or smaller than the predetermined intensity.

If the intensity of the thermal feedback is below a certain level, it isnot needed to perform the buffering operation since the thermalinversion illusion is not felt by the user at the end of the thermalfeedback output.

Here, the predetermined intensity may be differently set for the hotfeedback and the cold feedback. For example, the predetermined intensityfor the cold feedback may be set smaller than the hot feedback. This isbecause the temperature change rate is greater at the end of the coldfeedback than the hot feedback. Therefore, the buffering operation maybe performed for the cold feedback of the certain intensity, while notfor the hot feedback of the same intensity.

3.4.4. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion ConsideringThermal Feedback Type.

FIG. 64 is a flowchart related to an eighth example of the method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the eighth example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to preventing the thermal inversion illusion.Specifically, the eighth example of the method for providing the thermalfeedback is related to preventing the thermal inversion illusionconsidering the type of the terminated thermal feedback.

Referring to FIG. 64 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S8100), obtainingfeedback information (S8200), performing the heat generating operationor the heat absorbing operation based on the feedback information (StepS8300), terminating the thermal feedback (S8400), determining the typeof the thermal feedback (S8500), and operating the buffering operationsdifferently according to the determined type of thermal feedback(S8600).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, a feedback request message is acquired (S8100), feedbackinformation is obtained (S8200), and the heat generating operation orthe heat absorbing operation is performed based on the feedbackinformation (S8300). These steps may be similar to steps S7100, S7200,S7300 and S7400 described above.

The type of the thermal feedback is determined (S8500).

As the thermoelectric operation is terminated, the feedback controller1400 may determine the type of the thermal feedback that has beenterminated. The type of the thermal feedback may include the hotfeedback and the cold feedback. The feedback controller 1400 maydetermine the type of the thermal feedback based on the feedbackinformation or the current direction of the operating power.

The buffering operation is performed differently according to the typeof the thermal feedback (S8600).

As described above, since the temperature change rate at the end of coldfeedback is steeper than the temperature change rate at the end of thehot feedback, it may perform the buffering operation differently betweenthe two feedbacks.

The feedback controller 1400 may perform the buffering operation usingthe first buffering voltage for the first buffering duration for the hotfeedback, and may perform the buffering operation using the secondbuffering voltage during the second buffering duration for the coldfeedback.

For one example, the second buffering duration may be greater than thefirst buffering duration. This is because the temperature change rate onthe contact surface 1600 from the saturation temperature toward theinitial temperature at the end of cold feedback is faster than at theend of hot feedback when the temperature difference between the initialtemperature and the saturation temperature is same in both the hotfeedback and the cold feedback.

As another example, the first buffering time may be greater than thesecond buffering time. This is because the temperature differenceinduced at the contact surface 1600 by the hot feedback is greater thanthe temperature difference induced at the contact surface 1600 by thecold feedback when the operating voltage applied for both the hotfeedback and the cold feedback is same.

The feedback controller 1400 may generate the buffering power for thebuffering operation related to the end of the hot feedback and thebuffering power for the buffering operation related to the end of thecold feedback, which have different voltage value.

For one example, the first buffering voltage for the hot feedback may beless than the second buffering voltage for the cold feedback. This isbecause the temperature return speed of the cold feedback is faster thanthat of the hot feedback when the temperature difference between theinitial temperature and the saturation temperature is the same.

As another example, the first buffering voltage for the hot feedback maybe greater than the second buffering for the cold feedback. This isbecause the temperature difference is greater in the hot feedback thanin the cold feedback when the same operating voltage is used for bothfeedbacks. The buffering power for the hot feedback and the coldfeedback may have different current values or duty rates instead ofdifferent voltage values.

The voltage magnitude ratio, current magnitude ratio or duty rate ratioof the buffering power to the operating power may be less than 1respectively. Those ratios may be set differently for the bufferingoperation for the cold feedback and the buffering operation for the hotfeedback.

Here, the ratio value used in the buffering operation performed at theend of the cold feedback may be larger than the ratio value used in thebuffering operation performed at the end of the hot feedback. This isbecause the temperature return speed in cold feedback may be faster.

Specifically, when the operating power for hot feedback has a firstvoltage, a first current and a first duty rate and the operating powerfor cold feedback has a second voltage, a second current and a secondduty rate, the buffering power related to the hot feedback has a thirdvoltage, a third current and a third duty rate, and the buffering powerrelated to the cold feedback has a fourth voltage, a fourth current anda fourth duty rate, the ratio of the third voltage to the first voltage,the third current to the first current or the third duty rate to thefirst duty rate may be smaller than the ratio of the fourth voltage tothe second voltage, the fourth current to the second current or thefourth duty rate to the second duty rate, respectively. This is becausethe temperature change speed from the saturation temperature toward theinitial temperature is greater at the end of cold feedback than at theend of the hot feedback when the temperature difference between theinitial temperature and the saturation temperature is same in the hotfeedback and the cold feedback.

Or the ratio value related to the cold feedback may be smaller than theratio value related to the hot feedback. This is because the temperaturedifference between the initial temperature and the saturationtemperature is greater in the hot feedback than in the cold feedbackwhen the operating voltage is same in the hot feedback and the coldfeedback.

For yet another example, the feedback controller 1400 may determine thenumber of the thermoelectric couple groups to be included in thebuffering groups performing the buffering operation, based on the typeof the thermal feedback to be terminated.

Specifically, the number of the thermoelectric couple groups in thebuffering group performing the buffering operation at the end of the hotfeedback may be smaller than the number of the thermoelectric couplegroups in the buffering groups performing the buffering operation at theend of the cold feedback. This is because the temperature change speedmay be greater at the end of the cold feedback than at the end of thehot feedback. Similarly, the number ratio of the thermoelectric couplegroups in the buffering group to the thermoelectric couple groups in theoperating group may be smaller for the hot feedback than for the coldfeedback.

Conversely, the number of the thermoelectric couple groups in thebuffering group performing the buffering operation at the end of the hotfeedback may be greater than the number of thermoelectric couple groupsin the buffering groups performing the buffering operation at the end ofthe cold feedback. This is because the temperature difference due to thehot feedback may be greater than the temperature difference due to thecold feedback. Similarly, the ratio of the number of the thermoelectriccouple group in the buffering group to the operating group may besmaller for the cold feedback than for the hot feedback.

Here, the buffering power and the operating power may be the same power.In this case, the buffering operation may be interpreted as an operationof gradually reducing the number of operating groups to which operatingpower is applied.

3.4.5. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion Related toSuccessive Thermal Feedback

FIG. 65 is a flowchart illustrating a ninth example of a method forproviding thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the ninth example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to preventing the thermal inversion illusion. Specifically,the ninth example of the method for providing the thermal feedback isrelated to preventing the thermal inversion illusion when the successivethermal feedback is outputted.

Referring to FIG. 65 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a first feedback request message (S9100), acquiringfeedback information from the first feedback request message (S9200),performing the heat generating operation or the heat absorbing operationbased on the feedback information (S9300), terminating the thermalfeedback (S9400), obtaining a second feedback request message during abuffering period (S9500), and stopping the buffering operation uponacquiring the second feedback request message and initiating thefeedback operation based on the second feedback request message (S9600).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, a first feedback request message is acquired (S9100), feedbackinformation is obtained (S9200), the heat generating operation or theheat absorbing operation is performed based on the feedback information(S9300), thermal feedback is terminated, and the buffering operation isperformed (S9400). These steps may be similar to steps S6100, S6200,S6300, and S6400 described above.

Here, a second feedback request message may be obtained at the time whenthe buffering operation is being performed (S9500). The feedbackcontroller 1400 may confirm whether the second feedback request messageis acquired similarly to the step S9100 during the buffering operation.

Upon the receipt of the second feedback request message, the bufferingoperation is stopped and the feedback operation related to the secondfeedback request message is started (S9600). The feedback controller1400 may stop the buffering operation immediately upon the receipt ofthe second feedback request message, and directly start to thethermoelectric operation for outputting the thermal feedback related tothe second feedback request message.

3.4.6. Method for Preventing Thermal Inversion Illusion at Terminationof Thermal Grill Feedback

FIG. 66 is a flowchart illustrating a tenth example of a method forproviding the thermal feedback according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Here, the tenth example of the method for providing the thermal feedbackis related to preventing the thermal inversion illusion. Specifically,the tenth example of the method for providing the thermal feedback isrelated to preventing the thermal inversion illusion when the thermalgrill feedback is terminated.

Referring to FIG. 66 , the method for providing the thermal feedback maycomprise: obtaining a feedback request message (S10100), obtainingfeedback information (S10200), determining a type of the thermalfeedback to be performed based on the feedback information (S10300),when the determined type of thermal feedback is a thermal grillfeedback, performing the thermal grill feedback (S10400), finishing thethermal grill feedback (S10500), and performing the buffering operationfor the thermal grill feedback (S10600).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described steps will be described in moredetail.

First, a feedback request message is acquired (S10100), feedbackinformation is obtained (S10200), and the type of the thermal feedbackto be performed is determined based on the feedback information(S10300). These steps may be similar to steps S2100, S2200, S2300, andS2400 described above.

If the type of the thermal feedback is thermal grill feedback, thethermal grill feedback may be performed (S10400). This step may besimilar to performing the thermal grill operation according to thesecond to fifth examples of the method of providing thermal feedback.

And, the thermal grill feedback may be terminated (S10500). This stepmay be similar to S6400.

When the thermal grill feedback is terminated, the buffering operationfor thermal grill feedback is performed (S10600).

Here, the buffering operation is intended to prevent the thermalinversion illusion. However, the main purpose of the buffering operationrelated to the termination of the thermal grill feedback is to prevent ahot feeling or a cold feeling temporarily felt by the user after thetermination of the operating power for the thermal grill feedback. Here,the hot feeling and cold feeling is caused because the when the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is stopped at thesame time, one of the hot region performing the heat generatingoperation and the cold region performing the heat absorbing operation ofthe contact surface 1600 may reach the temperature equilibrium at thedifferent time or reach the temperature equilibrium at a temperaturedifferent from the initial temperature.

Generally, in the thermal grill feedback, the cold feedback is performedwith a greater intensity than the hot feedback, and the temperaturechange rate after the end of the thermal grill operation is faster atthe cold area than the hot area. Accordingly, the feedback controller1400 may prevent the thermal inversion illusion phenomenon occurring atthe hot area or total area by applying the reverse voltage for apredetermined time at the end of the thermal grill feedback. That is,the first operation.

On the other hand, since the intensity of the cold feedback is greaterthan the intensity of the hot feedback, the time to reach the initialtemperature of the cold feedback may be prior to the time to reach theinitial temperature of the hot feedback. Accordingly, the feedbackcontroller 1400 may adjust the thermal balance by applying the forwardvoltage to the heating area or the entire area for a predetermined timeafter a certain time has passed after the end of the thermal grillfeedback. That is, the second operation.

The power, which is applied at the end of the thermal grill feedback andused in the first operation and the second operation, may be referred toas the buffering power, but may also be referred to as a supplementalpower. This is because the power has the purpose of making the thermalequilibrium of the contact surface 1600 at the initial temperature atthe end of the thermal feedback output.

Here, the supplemental power may be applied to at least one of the heatgenerating area and the heat absorbing area.

The current direction of the supplemental power may be determined to bea forward direction so that the heat generating portion and heatabsorbing portion of the contact surface 1600 is thermally balanced atthe initial temperature, since the intensity of the cold feedback forthe thermal grill feedback is greater than the intensity of the hotfeedback.

Alternatively, the reverse power and the forward power are used togetheras the supplemental power, but at least one of the current, voltage,application time of the forward power may be adjusted to be larger thanthose of the reverse power, respectively. Here, when the forward powerand the reverse power are applied together with the supplemental power,it is preferable that the reverse power may be applied to the heatabsorbing portion and the forward power may be applied to the heatgenerating portion.

Alternatively, the current direction of the supplemental power may bedetermined to be a reverse direction to prevent that the contact surface1600 reaches thermal equilibrium at a temperature greater than theinitial temperature by the residual heat due to the thermoelectricoperation for the thermal grill feedback.

Alternatively, the reverse power and the forward power are used togetheras the supplemental power, but at least one of the current, voltage,application time of the forward power may be adjusted to be smaller thanthose of the reverse power, respectively. Here, when the forward powerand the reverse power are applied together with the supplemental power,it is preferable that the forward power is applied to the heatgenerating portion and the reverse power is applied to the heatabsorbing portion.

On the other hand, instead of using the supplemental power as describedabove, the end timing of the hot feedback and the cold feedback relatedto the thermal grill feedback may be set to be different from eachother.

The heating region first reaches the thermal equilibrium and the heatabsorbing region reaches the thermal equilibrium when the heatgenerating operation and the heat absorbing operation is terminated atthe same time, since the cold feedback is performed at a greaterintensity than the hot feedback, and thus the coldness may be felt inthe process of reaching the thermal equilibrium.

To prevent this, the heat generating operation among the thermoelectricoperation for the thermal grill feedback may be first terminated and theheat absorbing operation may be terminated later. Accordingly, the heatgenerating portion and the heat absorbing portion may reach the thermalequilibrium at the same time.

If the temperature difference amount at the absorbing portion is largerthan the temperature change amount at the heat generating portion, thecontact surface 1600 may reach the thermal equilibrium at a temperaturelower than the initial temperature at the end of the thermal grillfeedback output. To prevent this, the heat absorbing operation may bestopped first and stop the heat generating operation later so that thethermal equilibrium is achieved at the initial temperature.

When the thermoelectric element performs thermoelectric operation usingelectric energy, residual heat may be generated. Such residual heat maycause thermal equilibrium at a temperature higher than the initialtemperature at the end of the thermal grill feedback output. To preventthis, the heat absorbing operation may be stopped later and the heatgenerating operation stopped first so that the thermal equilibrium isachieved at the initial temperature.

In the present embodiment, the first operation, the second operation,and the method of adjusting the stopping point of the end of the heatgenerating operation/heat absorbing operation may all be performedindividually or in combination.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a thermoelectricoperation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In step S11100, feedback device 100 may receive a signal to start athermoelectric operation.

In step S11200, feedback device 100 may apply an operating power. Forexample, feedback device 100 may apply an operating power to thethermoelectric element of the heat outputting module 1200.

In step S11300, feedback device 100 may wait for a stop signal. If instep S11300, feedback device 100 does not receive a stop signal (S11300:No), it may continue to step S11200 and continue applying the operatingpower. However, if in step S11300, feedback device 100 receives a stopsignal (S11300: Yes), it may continue to step S11400.

In step S11400, feedback device 100 may stop applying operating power.For example, feedback device 100 may stop applying an operating power tothe thermoelectric element of the heat outputting module 1200.

In step S11500, feedback device 100 may apply a buffering power. In someembodiments, feedback 100 may apply a buffering power to thethermoelectric element of the heat outputting module 1200 instead ofshutting off all power. In such embodiments, the buffering power may beselected to prevent a thermal inversion illusion.

The methods of providing thermal feedback according to the embodimentsof the present disclosure described above can be used alone or incombination with each other. In addition, since each of the stepsdescribed in each thermal feedback providing method is not essential,the method of providing thermal feedback can be performed by includingall or part of the steps. Also, since the order in which the steps aredescribed is merely to facilitate explanations, the steps in the methodof providing thermal feedback are not necessarily performed in the orderdescribed. Non-dependent steps may be performed in any order or inparallel.

Further, in the method of providing thermal feedback according to anembodiment of the present disclosure described above, any steps notdescribed as being executed by a specific controller may be performed byone or both of the application controller 2700 and the feedbackcontroller 1400 of the feedback device 100. In addition, in the abovedescription, the matters described as being performed by the applicationcontroller 2700 may be performed by the feedback controller 1400 asneeded or, conversely, by the feedback controller 1400. In addition,steps described as being executed by the application controller 2700 maybe executed by the feedback controller 1400, or by the collaborativeoperation of the application controller 2700 and the feedback controller1400. Again, it should be noted that the application controller 2700 andthe feedback controller 1400 may be implemented as a single controller.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical ideaof the present disclosure and various changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the essential characteristics of the presentdisclosure by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the embodiments ofthe present disclosure described above may be implemented separately orin combination.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure areintended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the presentdisclosure, and the scope of the technical idea of the presentdisclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protectionof the present disclosure should be construed according to the followingclaims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents thereofshould be construed as being included in the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for providing thermal feedback,performed by a feedback device, wherein the feedback device outputs thethermal feedback, by transmitting a heat generated by a thermoelectricelement, to a user via a contact surface contacting with a body part ofthe user, comprising: applying a first power corresponding to firstthermal feedback for providing the first thermal feedback; receiving amessage indicating provision of second thermal feedback different fromthe first thermal feedback; before applying a second power correspondingto the second thermal feedback according to the message, applying abuffering power having a magnitude between the first power and thesecond power; and after applying the buffering power, applying thesecond power for providing the second thermal feedback.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the magnitude of the buffering power is determined toreduce or prevent a thermal inversion illusion.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the applying the buffering power comprises applying thebuffering power for a predetermined time duration.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the predetermined time duration when the first thermalfeedback and the second thermal feedback are cold feedback is longerthan the predetermined time duration when the first thermal feedback andthe second thermal feedback are hot feedback.
 5. The method of claim 3,further comprising: determining whether the first thermal feedback andthe second thermal feedback are cold feedback or hot feedback; when thefirst thermal feedback and the second thermal feedback are coldfeedback, determining the predetermined time duration as a first timeduration; and when the first thermal feedback and the second thermalfeedback are hot feedback, determining the predetermined time durationas a second time duration shorter than the first time duration.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether an intensitydifference between the first thermal feedback and the second thermalfeedback is equal to or greater than a predetermined level; when theintensity difference is equal to or greater than the predeterminedlevel, applying the buffering power before applying the second power;and when the intensity difference is smaller than the predeterminedlevel, after applying the first power, applying the second power withoutapplying the buffering power.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst power, the second power and the buffering power have the samepolarity.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying the bufferingpower comprises: applying a first buffering power having a magnitudebetween the first power and the second power; and applying a secondbuffering power having a magnitude between the first buffering power andthe second power.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude of thefirst power is greater than the magnitude of the second power.
 10. Amethod for providing thermal feedback, performed by a feedback device,wherein the feedback device outputs the thermal feedback, bytransmitting a heat generated by a thermoelectric element, to a user viaa contact surface contacting with a body part of the user, comprising:applying a first power corresponding to first thermal feedback forproviding the first thermal feedback; receiving a message indicatingprovision of second thermal feedback different from the first thermalfeedback; before applying a second power corresponding to the secondthermal feedback according to the message, applying a buffering powerhaving a duty ratio between the first power and the second power; andafter applying the buffering power, applying the second power forproviding the second thermal feedback.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the duty ratio of the buffering power is determined to reduce orprevent a thermal inversion illusion.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the applying the buffering power comprises applying thebuffering power for a predetermined time duration.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the predetermined time duration when the first thermalfeedback and the second thermal feedback are cold feedback is longerthan the predetermined time duration when the first thermal feedback andthe second thermal feedback are hot feedback.
 14. The method of claim12, further comprising: determining whether the first thermal feedbackand the second thermal feedback are cold feedback or hot feedback; whenthe first thermal feedback and the second thermal feedback are coldfeedback, determining the predetermined time duration as a first timeduration; and when the first thermal feedback and the second thermalfeedback are hot feedback, determining the predetermined time durationas a second time duration shorter than the first time duration.
 15. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: determining whether an intensitydifference between the first thermal feedback and the second thermalfeedback is equal to or greater than a predetermined level; when theintensity difference is equal to or greater than the predeterminedlevel, applying the buffering power before applying the second power;and when the intensity difference is smaller than the predeterminedlevel, after applying the first power, applying the second power withoutapplying the buffering power.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst power, the second power and the buffering power have the samepolarity.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying the bufferingpower comprises: applying a first buffering power having a duty ratiobetween the first power and the second power; and applying a secondbuffering power having a duty ratio between the first buffering powerand the second power.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein the duty ratioof the first power is greater than the duty ratio of the second power.